Thursday, March 05, 2009

Sexual assault

Following are some of the cases of sexual assault against people with disabilities, not previously covered by FRIDA, that were reported in the news during the month of February, 2009.

Via the Pocono Record (February 27) - A 69-year-old Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania man has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting his developmentally disabled granddaughter from February 2004, when she was 14 years-old, until this past January.

Via Delmarva Now (February 25) - A 41-year-old Salisbury, Maryland man was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault in connection with the rape of a 15-year-old girl with developmental disabilities.

From News 10 (February 20) - A Woodland (Sacramento, Ca.) man has been found guilty of multiple sexual assault offenses in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old girl with developmental disabilities whom he befriended on the streets.

From News 2 (February 13) - A Nampa care-worker in Eagle, Boise, Idaho, is suspected of sexually assaulting a resident of an assisted living home . The 42-year-old woman was arrested for having sexual contact with a developmentally disabled woman in her 50s. The owner of the facility has also been cited for failing to report the abuse in a timely manner.

From Wicked Local News (February 12) - A Sudbury (Massachusetts) nursing home employee was arrested and charged with assaulting a 62-year-old disabled woman at Sudbury Pines Extended Care between last Wednesday and Friday. While the assault occurred, another patient was in the room, but was asleep when the incident occurred, it is reported. The assault was discovered when another aide noticed the woman acting strangely toward the man.

From KCENTV (February 10) - A 51-year-old Falls County man was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 75-year-old developmentally disabled woman. According to the woman, the incident happened at his home last month. Investigators say he has an extensive criminal history, and detectives are looking into the possibility of more victims.

From The Star (February 6) - An Oshawa (Ontario, Canada) woman working for the Association for Community Living, a non-profit agency that provides support for people with mental disabilities, was charged with sexually assaulting a man with developmental disabilities. Police are trying to determine if there were any other victims.

From Online Athens (February 2) - A 48-year-old Athens man has been indicted for allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman with physical disabilities three times over an 18 month period. The woman, whom reportedly knew and trusted the man, didn't report the first two assaults because the man assured her it wouldn't happen again. He has been indicted on three counts of rape and one count of aggravated sodomy with force.