HCA Florida Largo West Hospital Tech Se'Jour Deangelo Fulks, Accused of Sexually Battering Two Mental Health Patients

Hospital Worker Accused of Sexually Battering Mental Health Patients

A HCA Florida Largo West Hospital employee accused of sexually assaulting patients has been arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery. According to authorities, two involuntarily committed mental health patients reported being assaulted while receiving emergency psychiatric care.

Se'Jour Deangelo Fulks, 28, was taken into custody by the Largo Police Department on Tuesday. According to officials, Fulks worked at the hospital from January 2026 to May 2026, during which time he had direct access to vulnerable patients in the mental health unit.

Surveillance Footage Allegedly Captured Hospital Employee Entering Victims' Rooms

Both victims had been involuntarily committed at the time of the alleged assaults, according to a sworn affidavit. Surveillance video showed Fulks entering the patients' rooms during the early morning hours on separate days in April, staying longer than necessary with the doors shut. Detectives say he would begin by massaging the victims before committing sexual acts on them without their consent. On one occasion, Fulks returned to the same victim's room and carried out a second assault.

Victim Reported Alleged Sexual Assault to Hospital Staff

One victim told investigators that Fulks had warned him "not to tell because he would lose his job." Despite that, the victim flagged down another staff member as soon as Fulks left the room, a disclosure that set the investigation in motion.

FL Hospital Tech Has History of Targeting Vulnerable People

This was not Fulks' first time facing criminal charges tied to a caregiving role. Records show he carried two prior convictions in Pinellas County stemming from his time at the Lake House Assisted Living Facility in Largo. The 2017 charges included exploitation of the elderly, fraudulent use of a credit card, fraudulent use of personal identification, and theft of credit cards. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

The factual information above was sourced from wfla.com as of June 1, 2026.

The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.

What Legal Options Do Victims Have When Sexually Assaulted by a Hospital Employee?

When a patient is sexually abused by someone employed at a hospital, the path forward can feel overwhelming — especially for those who were already in a vulnerable state when the assault occurred. Civil law offers victims a separate and powerful avenue for accountability, one that goes beyond the criminal justice process and can hold healthcare institutions directly responsible for the harm done under their roof. We sat down with Miami-based sexual abuse attorney Michael Haggard to walk through what victims need to know about their legal rights in Florida.

Editor Darla Medina: When a patient is sexually abused by a hospital employee, who can actually be held legally responsible beyond the individual who committed the act?

Attorney Michael Haggard: The hospital itself can absolutely be held accountable. When a healthcare facility employs someone who goes on to abuse a patient, there are real questions about what the hospital knew, what background checks were performed, and whether proper supervision was in place. Hospitals have a legal duty to protect the people in their care, and when that duty is breached, they can face significant civil liability.

Medina: What kind of civil claims can a victim typically bring in a case like this?

Haggard: In Florida, victims can pursue claims for negligent hiring, negligent retention, and negligent supervision against the facility. There is also a direct claim for the sexual battery itself. These claims can result in compensation for medical expenses, psychological treatment, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages — which are designed to punish particularly reckless conduct by an institution.

Medina: Mental health patients are often in an especially vulnerable position. Does that factor into a civil case?

Haggard: It factors in significantly. When someone has been involuntarily committed, they are entirely dependent on the facility and its staff for their safety. They cannot simply leave. That heightened vulnerability places an even greater duty of care on the hospital, and courts take that seriously. It also speaks to the severity of the harm caused.

Medina: What would you tell someone who experienced this kind of abuse but is hesitant to come forward?

Haggard: I would tell them that coming forward is one of the most powerful things they can do — not just for themselves, but for anyone else who may have been harmed. A civil case is separate from the criminal process, and victims have rights and options that exist independent of what happens in a courtroom. Speaking confidentially with an attorney costs nothing and can help a person understand exactly where they stand. No one should have to carry this alone.

Your Story Matters — And So Do Your Rights

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused by a hospital employee or any other caregiver, you do not have to face what comes next alone. A free, confidential consultation with our legal team costs nothing and commits you to nothing — but it could change everything. Contact us today to speak directly with an attorney who understands what you are going through and knows how to fight for the accountability you deserve.