New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced the arrest of nursing home counselor, Jack Stanley, for alleged sexual abuse of 2 residents at the Northeast Center for Special Care. Both residents involved suffer from traumatic brain injuries. Also known as “Northeast, ” the facility specializes in the care of brain injury, spinal cord injury and those requiring ventilator care.
Between September 2014 and February 2015, Stanley was employed by Northeast as a “Neighborhood Counselor” to assist new residents with activities and acclimation to the facility. Stanley allegedly used his position as a means to maintain contact with the two residents and forcibly performed sexual acts, including oral sex, on both residents.
“Committing sexual abuse against vulnerable New Yorkers is deplorable, and the allegations in this case are incredibly disturbing,” said Schneiderman. “We will not allow individuals to exploit their role as caretakers in order to take advantage of those they are meant to protect. Those who commit acts of sexual abuse will be punished.” As a resident of a nursing home in New York State, all residents have the right to “be free from verbal, sexual, mental or physical abuse.”
Stanley, from Kingston, was arraigned in Ulster Town Court on July 28, 2016 and faces up to twenty-five years in jail charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, and five counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.
The Center’s Administrator, Seth Rinn, expressed remorse in a written statement saying, “The center family is saddened by the circumstances these residents endured and are troubled that a staff member at our facility was capable of taking advantage of our vulnerable population.” Rinn said the allegations of the sexual abuse were “immediately reported Ulster County Department of Health” as well as issuing Stanley an immediate suspension. “It is our continued mission to ensure all patients and residents entrusted to our care receive and are treated with the utmost respect in a caring and safe environment.”
New York State Department of Health defines abuse as, “ Inappropriate physical contact with a resident of a residential health care facility, while the resident is under the supervision of the facility, which harms or is likely to harm the resident. Inappropriate physical contact includes, but is not limited to, striking, pinching, kicking, shoving, bumping, and sexual molestation.” Federal regulation, 42 CFR 483.13, Resident behavior and facility practices states, “(1) The resident has the right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion. (2) The facility must ensure that all alleged violations involving mistreatment, neglect, or abuse, including injuries of unknown source, and misappropriation of resident property are reported immediately to the administrator of the facility and to other officials in accordance with State law through established procedures. (3) The facility must have evidence that all alleged violations are thoroughly investigated, and must prevent further potential abuse while the investigation is in progress.”
Northeast Center for Special Care is located at 300 Grant Avenue, Lake Katrine, NY. It has a total of 280 beds with 180 beds dedicated to Traumatic Brain Injury residents. It is a for profit facility owned and operated by NCRNC, LLC, Spring Valley NY. Both Medicaid and Medicare certified.
Website References:
http://hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com/2016/07/28/nursing-home-counselor-arrested/
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2016/July/29/Stanley_arr-29Jul16.html
