STALKING/INDECENT ASSAULT

On September 22nd Officer Eyer took a report from a female victim/resident of a Rehabilitation/Nursing Facility who wanted to come forward with a report involving a resident and employee Edward J. ROCHE, 59 of Weatherly. The victim reported in detail that over the course of 3-4 weeks, ROCHE touched her private body parts on numerous occasions, including once while she slept in her bed. She told Officers that ROCHE exposed his genitals and began masturbating in front of her in her room after he pulled open her shirt and touched her, another time he pinned the victim while in her wheelchair in an elevator using his housekeeping cart and held her there while he touched her chest. He would follow her throughout the facility trying to get her to meet with him in certain areas of the facility when they were closed. ROCHE is charged by Officer Eyer with the following offenses – 3 counts Felony Abuse of a care-dependent person (stalking related) , 3 counts Misdemeanor Abuse of a care-dependent person (course of conduct related), 1 count Misdemeanor Indecent Assault of person unconscious, 3 counts Misdemeanor Abuse of a care-dependent person (communicates lewd, or obscene language), 3 counts Misdemeanor Stalking, 1 count Misdemeanor Obscene and other Sexual Materials and Performances, 1 count Misdemeanor Unlawful Restraint, 3 counts Misdemeanor Indecent Assault, 1 count Misdemeanor Open Lewdness, 3 counts Misdemeanor Harassment. An arrest warrant was issued September 25th 2024 and ROCHE was taken into custody and arraigned by Mag. Homanko before being committed to the Carbon County Correctional Facility where he was unable to post $250,000 straight cash bail.

Any information received that was not released by the Weatherly Police Department is considered invalid and should not be deemed official. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Media contact – Officer Michael Eyer, Weatherly Police Department, 570-427-4241 ext. 109. m.eyer@weatherlypd.com