Lubbock Care Facility Worker Arrested for Alleged Assault on Resident

A worker at the Lubbock State Supported Living Center has been arrested on charges of assaulting a disabled tenant and breaking his jaw. The homeowner, Dominick Balderaz, 36, died five days later, according to the police.

Court records show that 25-year-old Jacorey Jayleen Bracy was arrested on Thursday and put into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a first-degree felony charge of hurting a disabled person seriously. He could spend five years to life in jail if he is found guilty.

When police arrived at the facility on February 3, the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit began their probe. Staff said that Bracy, who was in charge of Balderaz's care, punched him in the face the day before. Later, a staff member found Balderaz with blood from the mouth and no teeth.

Balderaz couldn't say much because he had intellectual problems, so he used his hands to show that Bracy had hit him. The medical staff found that his lower jaw was broken, so they took him to University Medical Center for surgery.

Balderaz died on February 7, even though he was getting medical care. The cause of death is still unknown because the body has not been autopsied yet.

Investigators are looking at security video from the building to try to figure out what happened before the incident. As the case goes on, authorities have not ruled out more charges until the autopsy reports are in.

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