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Fire damages half of double-block house on Madison Street in Wilkes-Barre

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Pittston homicide defendant takes stand, says he had no choice but to shoot

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; A patient at First Hospital physically and sexually assaulted a nurse earlier this week by throwing her on a bed and jumping on her, according to court records.</p><p>Police arrested Joshua Jones, 21, of Division Street, Kingston, after he allegedly grabbed the nurse from behind, threw her on the bed and jumped on her.</p><p>Jones, who recently was admitted to the psychiatric facility, kissed the nurse while grinding himself against her, officers added.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint filed in the case:</p><p>The nurse told police she was making a bed for Jones just after 9 p.m. Wednesday when he approached her from behind saying, &#8220;Let me help you.&#8221;</p><p>Jones then grabbed the nurse by her waist and threw her against a wall. She screamed for help from another patient, who ran out of the room.</p><p>Jones threw the nurse on a bed, jumped on top of her, and began kissing her while grinding himself against her. During the assault, the nurse claimed Jones grabbed her chest under her shirt.</p><p>Police said the nurse had injuries to her wrists, left arm and chest.</p><p>Jones was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Matthew Christopher in Luzerne County Central Court on charges of aggravated assault, indecent assault, harassment and false imprisonment. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $20,000 bail.</p><p><strong>Other attacks</strong></p><p>The alleged incident involving Jones is the third reported assault against a nurse or nurse&#8217;s aide in the area this year:</p><p>&#8226; In March, Ray D. Rodriguez, 23, of Wilkes-Barre, was charged with using the elastic band from his underwear to chock a nurse&#8217;s aide inside a room at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township.</p><p>Rodriguez allegedly approached the aide from behind in his room and wrapped the elastic band twice around her neck.</p><p>Rodriguez&#8217;s preliminary hearing on aggravated assault charges is scheduled for Oct. 10 after being continued several times.</p><p>&#8226; In April, Ryan Michael Kerrick, 31, was charged with assaulting a nurse by allegedly throwing a bucket of vomit on him in the emergency room at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton. Kerrick was at the hospital as an overdose patient, court records say.</p><p>Kerrick is facing a trial later this month in county court on charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Police: Patient sexually assaulted nurse