Articles
(Note: Many of the articles appearing below are provided courtesy of the newsfeed summary from the Disability and Abuse Project of SPECTRUM INSTITUTE; thank you, Dr. Nora Baladerian!)
Rayne Couple Charged with Abuse of Mentally Challenged Woman
Rayne police arrested a couple accused of duct taping and hog-tying a mentally deficient family member for her money and prescription drugs. --- The Daily Advertiser --- January 13, 2012 (LOUISIANA) http://is.gd/OdoOtN
Shirley Mathis, Coral Springs Grandmother, Accused Of Chaining Grandson To Bed For Three Years
Death of Man at Bloomington Group Home Prompts Two Investigations
State authorities have opened two investigations into the sudden death in September of a developmentally disabled man living in a state-operated group home in Bloomington. --- Minneapolis Star Tribune --- January 11, 2012 (MINNESOTA) http://is.gd/ZQqzVN
Trial to Begin for NY Man Charged in '94 Slaying
Testimony is set to begin in the murder trial of an upstate New York man charged with the 1994 slaying of an employee at a group home for the developmentally disabled. --- Wall Street Journal --- January 11, 2012 (NEW YORK) http://is.gd/9rRzBG
Federal Report Slams NY for Care of Disabled
The New York Times reports that the federal government has criticized the Cuomo administration for mishandling care for the developmentally disabled. --- Wall Street Journal --- January 11, 2012 (NEW YORK) http://is.gd/Q72hEm
Man Accused of Raping Autistic Woman He Was Supposed to Be Watching Over
Family members later told deputies the woman is "mentally retarded and autistic to a high end" and that she is "unable to care for herself." --- Bellingham Herald --- January 10, 2012 (WASHINGTON) http://is.gd/c9jYxK
Ozark woman charged with taking man's social security
A woman faces a felony charge that she allegedly took advantage of a 53-year-old disabled man for her own financial gain. She has been charged with the exploitation of assets of a protected person. ALABAMA (Ozark), Dothan Eagle, January 5, 2012 http://www2.dothaneagle.com/news/2012/jan/05/ozark-woman-charged-exploiting-man-ar-2988776/
Most Abuse Comes from Familiar People
According to national studies, as many as 93 percent of victims of childhood sexual or physical abuse were harmed by someone they knew. It's not the mythological bogey man in the bushes by the ... --- Fort Wayne Journal Gazette --- January 1, 2012 (U.S. - NATIONAL) http://is.gd/L47zZI
Charges Upgraded in Sexual Torture Case
A rape charge against an Etowah County man involved in the alleged sexual torture of a mentally challenged was upgraded in December with an indictment by an Etowah County grand jury. --- Gadsden Times --- January 5, 2012 (ALABAMA) http://is.gd/MmZCvO
Man Gets 18 years for Disabled Girls' Sexual Abuse
Authorities say the two developmentally disabled girls - one of whom is confined to a wheelchair - were students at Garfield High School. They were assaulted on multiple times between 2005 and 2007 in an on-campus elevator ... --- San Francisco Chronicle --- January 5, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/MBPqfY
Police Say Fast Food Cashier Stole from Disabled
Police say a Southern California fast food restaurant cashier repeatedly stole change from a mentally disabled woman. Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen says the parents of the 38-year-old Irvine woman started suspecting six months ago that ... --- San Jose Mercury News --- January 5, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/UnFrj9
Police: Father Forced Autistic Children to Smoke Synthetic Marijuana
Police arrested a father after they say he gave synthetic marijuana to his two autistic children--ages 7 and 10-- and posted a video recording of it on Facebook. --- WTSP 10 News --- January 5, 2012 (FLORIDA) http://is.gd/ZQPgu5
St. Louis Teachers' Aide Charged with Molesting Disabled Boy
Just moments after he was spotted molesting a 4-year-old developmentally disabled student, a teachers' aide at Sigel Elementary School was found in a bathroom stall with another boy also under his care, according to prosecutors ... --- STLtoday.com --- January 3, 2012 (MISSOURI) http://is.gd/BzD0m2
Retired DEA Agent Arrested, Accused of Sexually Abusing Disabled Girl
A retired special agent for the Drug Enforcement Agency was arrested at his Nutley, NJ home Thursday, accused of sexually abusing a mentally disabled girl for years, prosecutors said. --- NBC New York --- January 5, 2012 (NEW YORK) http://is.gd/eWNBve
Group Home Worker Charged in Resident's Death
Police say an employee at a Summit County group home has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Christmas Eve bathtub drowning of a developmentally disabled resident. --- WTAM.com --- January 6, 2012 (OHIO) http://is.gd/Lh8HU3
Former Caregiver Arrested in Connection with June Death of Disabled Vancouver Woman
She faces charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in connection with the June 23 death of Rachelle Law, a disabled woman who met Depee through the Special Olympics. --- OregonLive.com --- December 29, 2011 (OREGON)
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Rhode Island Man to Be Arraigned on Charges He Raped Mentally Disabled Woman Who Was Missing
A Rhode Island man is set to appear in court on charges he and two others sexually assaulted a mentally disabled woman who had gone missing from Cumberland earlier this year. --- The Republic --- December 28, 2011 (RHODE ISLAND) http://is.gd/OtpwYf
The mother of a nine-year-old autistic boy who was placed in a duffel bag with the drawstring pulled tight has called for the teacher responsible to be dismissed and for the practice to be banned. Dec. 27, 2011 - KY
Attorney General reaches settlement in Medicaid fraud case -- Company to pay state $15,000
Jefferson City, Mo.- Attorney General Chris Koster today announced a settlement with Lana Reece-Gates, owner of Dignity Home Health Care Services, a St. Louis-based company that provides in-home personal care services. The settlement resolves allegations that Reece-Gates submitted false claims to Medicaid and failed to run appropriate background screenings on personal care attendants. Koster said his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit's investigation revealed that Reece-Gates knowingly submitted false claims to Medicaid. She failed to run required background checks on personal care workers, and in at least one instance allowed an attendant to provide services when she knew the attendant had failed the background check. Reece-Gates then falsified records, indicating that she had provided the services.
68-Year-Old Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Disabled Men
A 68-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing two developmentally disabled men in Lewis County. Lowville-based state police said James H. Villiere, of 7990 Penny Settlement Road, Port Leyden, sexually abused one man over the ... --- Rome Sentinel --- December 27, 2011 (NEW YORK) http://is.gd/nO7nlj
Social Worker At Gym Instead of Caring for Disabled
A former State social worker who spent much of his work week at a local fitness club instead of caring for disabled individuals he was supposed ... --- North Country Gazette --- December 27, 2011 (NEW YORK) http://is.gd/5vcncz
Turtle Lake Handicapped Van Driver Charged with Sexual Assault
A Turtle Lake, Wis. man has been charged with the sexual assault of a child in a handicapped transportation van parked in his driveway last month. --- FOX 9 News --- December 12, 2011 (WISCONSIN) http://is.gd/KWUlFe
