David Chang

Male Dermatology Nurse Secretly Records Naked Female Patients at Bucks County Facility: Police

Investigators say the nurse secretly recorded a teen girl and seven women as they undressed during treatment under his care.

A Bucks county judge arraigned a male nurse on charges that he recorded his nude patients, including a teen girl.

James Close, 45, was initially arrested on Feb. 13 after being accused of secretly recording a 17-year-old patient at Penn Medicine Dermatology on 1000 Floral Vale Boulevard in Lower Makefield Township as she undressed. Close was charged again Monday with 43 additional counts involving the teen girl as well as seven adult women.

Close was a licensed practical nurse at Penn Medicine Dermatology. Investigators say Close was assigned to the teen girl on Feb. 13 around noon as she received her routine radiation treatment for a skin disorder. As the girl undressed in the treatment booth she noticed a silver iPhone lying on the ground at her feet, according to a criminal complaint. The teen noticed the phone had recorded live video of her undressing for 25 seconds, investigators said. [[414930533, C]]

"They learned it about the first victim, who was a juvenile, who was going in for treatment, she thought her privacy was protected," Lower Makefield Police Chief Ken Coluzzi said. "The nurse technician puts a phone underneath the curtain and films her. Detectives look into it further and find out that there are multiple victims."

The iPhone belonged to Close, according to investigators. After searching through the phone officials found 18 other videos showing the teen girl and seven adult women undressing while under Close’s care, officials said. Investigators say the videos, which were recorded in January and February, were all taken without the knowledge and consent of the victims.

"We're appalled by the actions of the former employee and are cooperating with the investigation," Penn Medicine spokeswoman Susan Phillips said.

A judge arraigned Close on the new charges Tuesday morning, setting bail at 10 percent of $150,000. Close, who remained jailed unable to post bail, requested a public defender. [[238427591, C]]

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