By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
An employee of Princeton House Behavioral Health will beat a charge of sexually assaulting a female patient at the facility on Herrontown Road last year if he gets into and successfully completes a probation program.
Jonathan D. Hodges applied to the pre-trial intervention program, said his attorney, Robin Lord, during Mr. Hodges’ appearance in Mercer County Superior Court on Monday. She said afterward that she expects that he will be accepted into PTI, with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office saying it will consent to his getting in the program so long as he submits a letter of compelling reasons why he should be admitted.
Authorities have accused Mr. Hodges of assaulting a 34-year-old woman inside her room, at the facility, on Jan.28, 2015. They said the woman reported that Mr. Hodges allegedly forced himself upon her and then put his hand into her pants and underwear. The Prosecutor’s Office and Princeton Police a few days later announced that a criminal charge had been filed against him.
At the time, authorities said that video in the facility showed Mr. Hodges going into the woman’s room “several times during a 14-minute period and “staying various lengths of time.” He worked as a mental health associate.
Mr. Hodges, 36, was indicted in August on second-degree sexual assault, an offense that carries up to 10 years in state prison. He has pleaded not guilty. But if he gets into PTI and successfully completes the program, he will walk away without a criminal conviction or a criminal record.
Superior Court Judge Robert C. Billmeier, sitting in Trenton and hearing Mr. Hodges’ case, will have to approve of his getting into PTI. Mr. Hodges’ next court date was set for June 6.
Mr. Hodges, a resident of Trenton, remains free on $50,000 bail.
Princeton House is a part of the Princeton HealthCare System, which issued on Monday a statement mirroring the one it provided the media in November after Mr. Hodges was arraigned.
“Jonathan Hodges is employed by Princeton HealthCare System pending the outcome of his court case,” the statement read. “His work does not involve any contact with patients, nor does he provide any services at Princeton House Behavioral Health.”
As for the alleged victim, assistant prosecutor Jennifer Downing said outside court that the woman does not live in New Jersey, and that she has not been able to contact her.
Ms. Downing directed a question to her supervisor when asked if the Prosecutor’s Office was agreeing to PTI for Mr. Hodges because of challenges in proving its case against him.
