Articles
Guilty verdict of group home owner responsible for abuse, neglect, and death of intellectually disabled victim
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced that Richard C. Wagoner, Jr., was found guilty of abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult that resulted in death. A jury recommended that Wagoner be sentenced to five years' incarceration. Wagoner will be officially sentenced on October 18. Wagoner owned and operated The Claye Corporation, a group home for adults in Martinsville. The victim, Joseph Tuggle, 57, was an intellectually disabled adult suffering from Parkinson's disease, and received care in a group home operated by The Claye Corporation. On February 8, 2011, after Mr. Tuggle suffered an episode of incontinence, direct care givers placed him in a bathtub while they cleaned the affected area of the house. Mr. Tuggle was placed under a faucet running scalding water... Virginia (May 7, 2012)
Parker County Grand Jury Indicts 4 in Abuse of Special Needs Child
Four adults whose discipline of an 11-year-old boy with special needs included rubbing his face in ketchup on a wall and holding him down on a kitchen table while two of the adults paddled him with a plastic cutting board have been indicted by a Parker ... --- Chicago Tribune --- May 3, 2012 (ILLINOIS) http://is.gd/NFhtvO
Advocates Speak out After Developmentally Disabled Man Found Chained up in Edmond
The discovery of a developmentally disabled man tied up inside his home on Wednesday night had advocates speaking out Friday. The discovery of a developmentally disabled man tied up inside ... --- news9.com KWTV --- May 4, 2012 (OKLAHOMA) http://is.gd/Ye7ESQ
2 Women with Special Needs Allegedly Sexually Assaulted
In Pleasant Hills, detectives are investigating allegations made that a 27-year-old woman who is severely handicapped and can't speak was sexually assaulted at an adult daycare center. --- CBS Local --- May 3, 2012 (PENNSYLVANIA) http://is.gd/4ZiKiF
Special Needs Student Takes Beating from School Bus Aides
Two Darlington, South Carolina elementary school bus aides Tomeka Self (pictured in blue)and Rosanna Dudley (pictured in white) were arrested and charged with assault and battery for repeatedly striking a 10-year-old special needs ... --- News One --- May 2, 2012 (SOUTH CAROLINA) http://is.gd/WaCsRw
Milwaukee Company Convicted of Medicaid Fraud
Precious Transit, LLC, of 9746 West Appleton Avenue, Milwaukee, a specialized medical vehicle transportation company owned by Frederick Rutledge of Menomonee Falls, was convicted of 18 counts of medical assistance fraud in Milwaukee County. The convictions were based on allegations that drivers for the company were not properly certified as required by Wisconsin Medicaid. Former employees came forward with information that Precious Transit, LLC, falsified paperwork that documented transportation services provided to Medicaid recipients and formed the basis of claims for payment... May 01, 2012 Wisconsin - The significance of this action regarding abuse and other criminal issues is that many times those crimes occur at the hands of employees who were not qualified to work in transportation services. So, this provides a different angle in addressing that type of issue.
Why Autistic Children are Bullied More
As a new study finds, kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an even harder time with bullying, being many times more likely than their neurotypical siblings to have experienced it in their lifetimes. Even more disturbing, autistic ... --- Forbes --- April 24, 2011 (U.S. - NATIONAL) http://is.gd/bgWWR8
Lexington woman charged after disabled brother found among garbage, feces
A Lexington woman has pleaded not guilty to neglect after her disabled brother was found last week in a home where trash and human waste had piled up. Kentucky - April 24, 2012
Redfield Man Sentenced in Assault Case
Ronald Allen Karr, 57, Redfield, was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail for assaulting a disabled adult. Karr entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of Simple Assault, a class 1 misdemeanor. While working at the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield on October 7, 2011, Karr slapped a resident. A co-worker reported the incident and Karr was terminated. - South Dakota
Man Accused of Raping Disabled 7-Year-Old Girl on Trial
A Huntington Beach man is on trial accused of sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled 7-year-old girl. Daniel Vlas Flores, 30, is charged with a felony count each of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, sexual penetration, sexual intercourse ... --- Los Angeles Times --- April 20, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/5oj01z
Caretaker gets bond after charges of abuse, theft
The attorney for a caretaker accused of stealing from her mentally disabled residents said his client should be able to spend the money she earns however she wants. GEORGIA - WSBTV.com, April 19, 2012
Investigation of Care Home Pregnancy Continues After Disabled Woman Gives Birth
Placer County sheriff's officials are continuing DNA screening in an effort to identify the person who impregnated a severely mentally and physically disabled woman living at a Penryn care home. --- April 19, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/4uSPuI
Wade Lee Roberts, 4-Strikes Sex Offender, Up on Rape of...
A 60-year-old Anaheim man faces 45 years to life in state prison for allegedly picking up a developmentally disabled woman from a bus stop, driving her to a motel room and raping her. --- OC Weekly --- April 17, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/5SsNhW
95 Years in Beating Death of Deaf Man
A convicted killer who used a baseball bat to bludgeon a deaf man from behind received a 95-year prison sentence in Allen Superior Court today. Manuel Silva, previously found guilty by a jury of killing 39-year-old Christopher Deaton last summer, ... --- Fort Wayne Journal Gazette --- April 16, 2012 (INDIANA) http://is.gd/TF0EIm
Madison Heights Sex Offender Who Assaulted Mentally Disabled Woman Charged with Failing to Register
Haney served 15 years in prison after he was convicted in 1991 of twice sexually assaulting a mentally disabled woman in Madison Heights with the use of force, according to court records. --- Royal Oak Daily Tribune --- April 20, 2012 (MICHIGAN) http://is.gd/ae32n1
Couple to Stand Trial in Death of a Disabled Teen Staying in Freezing Room
A trial before a judge is set for next week for a south-central Missouri couple charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a disabled teenager. The Lebanon Daily Record reported that 44-year-old Ronda L. Shrout and ... --- The Republic --- April 19, 2012 (MISSOURI) http://is.gd/5M6DLX
Developmentally Disabled Woman Gets $4 million in St. Charles Rape Lawsuit
A federal jury on Thursday awarded $4 million to a female patient of a state facility for the developmentally disabled in St. Charles who said she was sexually assaulted by an employee. Jurors awarded her $1 million in actual damages and $3 ... --- STLtoday.com --- April 13, 2012 (MISSOURI) http://is.gd/jEQ1ol
Nebraska Councilman Takes Deal on Charge that He Sexually Assaulted Mentally Disabled Teen
A Kimball city councilman accused of sexually assaulting a mentally disabled teenage boy has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge. Scott Haun was charged in October with first-degree sexual assault. He pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree ... --- The Republic --- April 19, 2012 (NEBRASKA) http://is.gd/sXzcHp
Adult Foster Care Program Indicted For Alleged Kickbacks
A Fall River based adult foster care business was indicted Friday for allegedly paying, and offering to pay, illegal kickbacks in exchange for the referral of new clients enrolled in the Medicaid-funded program, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced... According to authorities, Etzkorn owns Gabriel Care, LLC, an adult foster care provider that oversees caregivers, typically a friend or family member, rendering at-home personal care services to MassHealth recipients. Nunes-Reid is the Program Director for Gabriel Care, LLC, and oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of the company. The indictments allege that Etzkorn, Nunes-Reid and his business paid and offered to pay individuals including those participating as clients or caregivers in the adult foster care program, a predetermined amount of money for each eligible MassHealth member they referred to his company. --- Massachusetts
Boston Initiative Trains Intellectually Disabled Teens To Resist Abuse
People with developmental disabilities are up to 10 times more likely than others to experience domestic violence or sexual abuse, according to a study from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. But a new program in Boston Public Schools is empowering the disabled to fight back. MASSACHUSETTS -- Radio Boston, April 11, 2012
Man Accused of Fondling Disabled Woman
Police have arrested an El Mirage man who they say groped a disabled woman shopping at Wal-Mart early Sunday morning. According to court documents, 43-year-old Tyree Lateff Saxton victimized a woman in a motorized wheelchair. --- MyFox Phoenix --- April 9, 2012 (ARIZONA) http://is.gd/WSWkNE
Attacker Beats Disabled Woman to Teach Her Son a Lesson?
Returning home from the hospital, Sharon Bryant practically radiated pain. She slowly tried to climb from the passenger seat of the van, reaching for the wheelchair on the top step, a grimace passing through her lips. "The doctor said there wasn't ... --- KARK --- April 9, 2012 (ARKANSAS) http://is.gd/BKIFJ0
Woman Accused of Killing Autistic Son Appears in Court
A Carmel Valley woman accused of drowning her 4-year-old autistic son in their apartment bathtub was in court Tuesday for a bail review hearing. Patricia Corby, who faces 25 years to life behind bars if convicted, was ordered held on $10 ... --- KGTV San Diego --- April 10, 2012 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/Uj6j5R
Woman Spared Jail Time in Starvation Death of Her Disabled Son
With tears in her eyes, a 64-year-old Lake Wales woman was spared Tuesday any further jail time in the starvation death of her disabled son. Circuit Judge Beth Harlan said she didn't think Vernetta Lawson set out to hurt her ... --- The Ledger --- April 11, 2012 (FLORIDA) http://is.gd/9tMSE7
Disabled Teenager Given 'Electric-Shock Treatment as School Punishment'
A video has emerged of a disabled boy being hit repeatedly with electric shocks by staff at a special needs school in Massachusetts. By Amy Willis, Los Angeles Andre McCollins, from New York, was 18 when he was strapped face down to a table at the ... --- Telegraph.co.uk --- April 12, 2012 (MASSACHUSETTS) http://is.gd/zTg7ME
Caregivers Charged in Death of Vulnerable Adult
Shawn James Gigrich, age 48, was charged with a gross misdemeanor count of criminal neglect and one count of failing to report the maltreatment of a vulnerable adult, which is a misdemeanor. Miski Mohamed-Ali, age 25, was charged with one misdemeanor ... --- KARE --- April 11, 2012 (MINNESOTA) http://is.gd/7YgFHW
Suspect Says He Killed Port Angeles Woman to Hide Rape
The accused killer of Jennifer Pimentel had planned to murder the developmentally-disabled woman to prevent her from accusing him of rape, according to new evidence in the case. Kevin A. Bradfield made the claim in a letter he sent to a family member ... --- KOMO News --- April 10, 2012 (WASHINGTON) http://is.gd/ub6iOB
Delhi Louisiana Woman Arrested for Exploitation of the Infirmed
A Delhi woman has been arrested and charged with three-counts of Exploitation of the Infirmed. Lillie W. Griffin, 58, of 111-½ Church Street, was arrested Tuesday by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators with assistance from the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office and was booked into the Richland Parish Prison on three-counts of Exploitation of the Infirmed. Griffin, a former employee of a Medicaid services provider, purchased three money orders totaling $2,346 on behalf of a person she was assigned to care for. However, the money orders were made payable to Griffin, who deposited two of them into her checking account for personal use.
