TOMS RIVER, NJ – A 67-year-old Berkeley Township man, David Taber, was found guilty of criminal sexual contact on March 5, 2025, following a nearly week-long jury trial in Ocean County Superior Court. The verdict, delivered before Judge Kenneth T. Palmer, stems from an incident that occurred on March 22, 2023, at the Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Facility in Berkeley Township. Taber now faces up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 9, 2025.
The conviction follows an investigation sparked by a disturbing encounter at the rehabilitation center.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Berkeley Township Police responded to the facility around 6:50 p.m. on March 22, 2023, after reports that a patient had inappropriately touched a female nurse.
The investigation revealed that Taber, a patient at the time, assaulted the nurse as she attempted to administer his medication. Authorities say he touched her breast without consent, restrained her in a bear-hug, and tried to pull down her pants before a co-worker intervened and separated them.
The jury concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Taber’s actions constituted criminal sexual contact, a charge he was served with via summons shortly after the incident. The trial, presided over by Judge Palmer, laid bare the details of the assault, culminating in Tuesday’s guilty verdict.
Taber’s sentencing in May will determine the exact penalty, but the conviction marks a significant step in holding him accountable for the attack. The case underscores the vulnerability of healthcare workers, particularly in settings like rehabilitation facilities, where they often provide care under challenging circumstances.
