Articles
(Abuse of people with I/DD occurs throughout the country, including in our own communities...)
Denville man charged with sexually assaulting disabled woman
A 58-year-old Denville man has been charged with sexually abusing a 23-year-old "severely autistic" woman entrusted to his care, according to authorities and a criminal complaint. Raymond Boyle of Riekens Trail was charged Monday with sexual assault and neglect of a disabled person and lodged in the Morris County jail on $35,000 bail, which a corrections officer Tuesday afternoon said Boyle was in the process of making. NEW JERSEY (Denville), Daily Record, December 3, 2013
Register investigation: woman receives 4 Taser stuns in 8 minutes
A woman with a complex genetic mental disorder was shocked with a Taser four times last month by a sergeant from the Muscatine County Sheriff's Department in an effort to get her to change her clothing. Five videos and 20 pages of sheriff's department reports related to the Oct. 7 incident were obtained by The Des Moines Register under Iowa's open-records law. Both the law enforcement consultant and three mental health advocates from Disability Rights Iowa agree that the incident, when seen in its entirety on video, is traumatic. IOWA (Muscatine), Des Moines Register, November 24, 2013
Three charged in attack at Bradenton Riverwalk skate park now face life in prison
The three men charged with beating a disabled man at the Bradenton Riverwalk Skate Park earlier this month now face the possibility of life in prison. The charge now alleges that assault was also a hate crime against the victim, making the charge a life felony, not a third-degree felony as filed by Bradenton police. FLORIDA (Bradenton), Bradenton Herald, November 21, 2013
Abuse, sexual harassment alleged at center for disabled
A former employee of an organization that provides services for adults with disabilities filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, which in April found probable cause that the woman was harassed by her boss at work. She also filed multiple complaints against her boss with the state's Disabled Persons Protection Commission alleging abuse and retaliation. "It seems to be that the place is very poorly run and very poorly managed and there is a supervisor there who was abusing clients and sexually harassing [my client]", attorney Jessica Hedges said. MASSACHUSETTS, My Fox Boston, November 21, 2013
I-Team: Abuse allegations lead to changes
An I-Team investigation and congressional action have created changes in how Nevada treats mentally disabled adults. In February, the I-Team looked into claims of patients with broken teeth, blackened eyes and deep bruising. Police and DRC officials investigated, but could not find enough evidence to move forward. After the stories of alleged abuse were aired on channel 8, Congresswoman Dina Titus called for an independent review. NEVADA (Las Vegas), 8 News Now, November 21, 2013
Three ex-Oakwood employees charged with abuse and neglect
Three former employees at a state-run facility for mentally disabled adults were indicted by a Pulaski County grand jury Monday on charges they persuaded a disabled patient to hit another resident in September while they recorded video of the incident. King is charged with three counts of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult. Burton is charged with two counts of complicity to knowing abuse or neglect of an adult and Ball faces one count of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult. KENTUCKY (Pulaski County), Courier-journal, November 18, 2013
Cadillac man charged with sexually assaulting disabled adults
A Cadillac man's criminal sexual conduct case has been bound over to 28th Circuit Court in Wexford County on charges he allegedly sexually assaulted two mentally disabled adults. The man is charged with taking sexual advantage of a mentally disabled young adult female and a mentally disabled young adult male. MICHIGAN (Cadillac), Cadillac News, November 19, 2013
Care home manager accused of taking money
A manager at an Ark City home for the developmentally disabled has been arrested after an investigation determined she purchased items for personal use with funds from the accounts of dependent clients. Authorities were alerted late in October when officials from Creative Community Living noticed spending that led them to suspect financial abuse. KANSAS (Cowley County), News Cow, November 14, 2013
