Articles
(Abuse of people with I/DD occurs throughout the country, including in our own communities...)
Disabled man kicked, punched at Bradenton skate park
Major trouble struck the park early Wednesday, when a mentally disabled man was assaulted by three people, according to police. According to an arrest report, investigators were tipped off about the beating from a Facebook video, which allegedly showed one 19 year-old kneeing and punching the victim in the head and chest while the other 20-year-old cheered him on. FLORIDA (Bradenton), ABC Action News, November 7
Jones Gets 12-35 Years for Rape
Joseph Jones will spend 12-35 years in prison for raping a mentally challenged woman in Warwood. Ohio County Circuit Judge David Sims followed a ... --- Wheeling Intelligencer --- November 8, 2013 (OHIO)
Parents of Autistic Teen Entrapped by Cops Sue School District
The parents of a 17-year-old special needs student arrested in an undercover police operation announced ... --- eNews Park Forest --- October 30, 2013 (CALIFORNIA)
Couple Indicted for Knifepoint Rape of Athens Special-needs Child
A Clarke County grand jury has indicted a man and woman on charges they raped an autistic 10-year-old boy. Matthew Wilson Freethy-Swimm, 27, held a knife ... --- Online Athens --- October 29, 2013 (GEORGIA)
Disturbing Video: Teacher Assaults Non-verbal, Wheelchair Bound Student
Cell phone video, recorded by a school nurse, shows Lipsey's daughter, in a wheelchair. You also see her teacher, Nerelyn Soreta. The video shows the woman ... --- WBXH --- November 1, 2013 (LOUISIANA)
Stow Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Asking a Developmentally Disabled Woman to Move
A bus driver for developmentally disabled individuals has been arrested for sexually exploiting a 22-year-old female he was transporting to a day-care ... --- Akron Beacon Journal --- October 31, 2013 (OHIO)
Columbia Pastor to be Arraigned on Charge of Raping a Mentally Disabled Teen from His Ministry
A Columbia pastor is facing charges of raping a mentally disabled young woman from his ministry. The Daily Herald reports ... --- The Republic --- November 1, 2013 (TENNESSEE)
Parents Accused of Starving Special Needs Son
A Livingston couple is facing criminal charges after authorities say they've severely neglected their 11-year-old son. --- abc13.com --- October 30, 2013 (TEXAS)
Mother of Tacony "dungeon" captive sues Philly and city officials over daughter's placement
The mother of one of the captives in what came to be known as the Tacony dungeon' case has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia and various officials over allegations that officials negligently placed her daughter in the care of the girl's aunt, Linda Ann Weston, despite the woman's prior criminal convictions. U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger previously said that Weston, her daughter and three other people ran a criminal enterprise by detaining the 10 adults, all of who suffered from developmental disabilities. PENNSYLVANIA (Philadelphia), The Pennsylvania Record, October 30, 2013
Attorney General Conway Announces Arrest of Caretaker for Patient Neglect
Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the arrest of a caretaker in south central Kentucky for wanton neglect of an adult. 24-year-old Danielle West, of Science Hill, Ky., was arrested at her home Friday morning by investigators from General Conway's Department of Criminal Investigations acting on a warrant obtained by the OAG Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division. October 25
Biden's Office Secures Conviction of Healthcare Professional Charged with Patient Abuse
Georgetown - Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that his office has secured the conviction of a Sussex County woman who was charged with abusing an elderly patient at a Seaford nursing home. October 21
Meridian Caregiver Indicted for Exploitation of Vulnerable Person
A Meridian resident is facing charges of exploitation of a vulnerable person, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Cedric Blanchard, 28, of Meridian turned himself in to investigators with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today following recent indictment by the Lauderdale County Grand Jury for one count of exploitation of a vulnerable person. October 21
Group home operator charged with abuses faces new allegations
Gary police and the Indiana attorney general uncovered more alleged criminal acts by the 40-year-old Gary woman whose group homes were all closed earlier this year. Victims said the owner and her boyfriend used stun guns on residents and described assaults on one resident before he was taken to the hospital. There was not always enough food and the doors were locked with dead bolts by caretakers who left residents unattended, court records state. INDIANA (Gary), Post-Tribune, October 19, 2013
Mom 'Furious' after Son with Special Needs Left Outside Alone
Jordan Page, 8, was sitting outside his special education classroom at Victory Elementary School. He was alone when his mother Tami Marsh ... --- News10.net --- October 10, 2013 (CALIFORNIA)
School Van Driver Charged with Sexually Assaulting Mentally Challenged Student
... allegedly sexually assaulting a disabled girl who he transported to school. --- Hartford Courant --- October 16, 2013 (CONNECTICUT)
Caregiver Fired, Disciplined for Alleged Financial Exploitation
A caregiver formerly with the Duluth Regional Care Center has been fired and disciplined for allegedly financially exploiting a vulnerable adult under their care. --- WDIO-TV --- October 17, 2013 (MINNESOTA)
NJ Girl Was Sexually Abused by School Bus Driver, Lawsuit Claims
A Mount Arlington father is suing a former school bus driver and the local school district, claiming the driver sexually abused his daughter on ... --- NJ.com --- October 13, 2013 (NEW JERSEY)
Ex-group Home Aide Gets Jail
A former aide in a group home will serve at least three months in jail for neglecting a severely handicapped resident who suffered horrific injuries at the facility ... --- Tribune-Review --- October 18, 2013 (PENNSYLVANIA)
Wildomar: Disabled man neglected, kept in filthy room, records say
A 40-year-old Wildomar man has been charged with neglecting his severely disabled brother, who was kept in a filthy bedroom in their home and had wasted away to about 70 pounds, authorities said. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department began investigating the case in February after the man brought his 35-year-old brother, who had been coughing and vomiting, to the emergency room at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta. The brother was suffering from severe dehydration, bed sores and more, court records say CALIFORNIA (Wildomar), The Press-Enterprise, October 16, 2013
Holiday man accused of abandoning disabled stepson
Police found the man with a mental disability alone at a Publix, clutching what little he had and begging help. He carried no money or ID, just 31 cents on an EBT card. He said he'd been abandoned by the man who looked after him since he was a boy. FLORIDA (New Port Richley), Tampa Bay Times, October 11, 2013
Bay City woman who stole from adult foster care residents must pay $11,000 inrestitution
Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on Friday, Oct. 11, ordered Debra J. Arnold, 53, to pay $11,068.02 in restitution to Bay Human Services. The judge also sentenced her to 20 days in jail, to be served on weekends, with credit for two days already served and an additional 162 days deferred. MICHIGAN (Bay City), M LIVE, October 14, 2013
Police: Man took advantage of disabled woman
Lincoln police jailed a 52-year-old Lincoln man on Tuesday for allegedly raping a mentally disabled woman, Lincoln police said. The 24-year-old woman told police that the man had sex with her three times against her will, Officer Lynette Russell said. NEBRASKA (Lincoln), Journal Star, October 16, 2013
Family Sues Over Movie Theater Death Of Man With Down Syndrome
The parents of a man with developmental disabilities who died after being handcuffed at a Frederick County, Md. movie theater have sued Regal Cinemas and the county in federal court. The lawsuit filed Thursday also names the county sheriff's office, three deputies and the movie theater as defendants. Robert "Ethan" Saylor, 26, died in January after the incident at the Westview Regal Cinemas at Westview Promenade in Frederick, Md. In the lawsuit, Patricia and Ronald Saylor accuse the defendants of negligence, violating Ethan Saylor's civil rights and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. "If any of the defendants had heeded Mr. Saylor's aide as to how to deal with Mr. Saylor, his tragic and unnecessary death would have been avoided," they say. Saylor had Down syndrome and an IQ of about 40, they say, and it was easy to recognize his developmental disability. Disability Scoop - October 18
Owner of Williston adult care home charged with abuse, exploitation
The owner of an adult care home in Williston was charged Thursday on allegations of mistreatment of residents, including failure to provide beds, restraining one with handcuffs, abusing residents and other crimes. She was arrested after a collaborative investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Sheriff's Office. FLORIDA (Williston), OCALA, October 3, 2013
Richmond woman charged with abusing disabled adult, her baby
A Richmond woman was formally charged Wednesday with two counts of battery for allegedly abusing a mentally disabled adult and the adult's baby, both of whom had been living with her. The adult victim told police she had been beaten almost daily for two of the five years she had lived in the home, forced to eat soap, animal feces and a cleaning wipe, and also was made to lick the living room carpet and the bathroom floor. INDIANA (Richmond), INDYSTAR, October 3, 2013
Mom allegedly used shock collar on disabled children
Prosecutors have charged a Cache County woman with using a dog shock collar to punish two of her adopted special-needs children. One of 9 adopted children, a 17-year-old girl with special needs, disclosed to student aids at her school that her mom uses "a behavior band" on her and her 20-year-old brother, who is also a disabled adult. UTAH (Cache County), The Salt Lake Tribune, September 26, 2013
