ABA therapist caught sexually&physically abusing 4 yr.old

[Guest guest]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--

therapistcharged0904sep04,0,805098.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

Police: Therapist, caught on tape, charged with assaulting boy

September 4, 2004, 4:08 PM EDT

LONG HILL, N.J. -- A therapist hired to teach an autistic boy has

been charged with sexually assaulting and beating the child after the

4-year-old's parents secretly videotaped one of her sessions with

their son.

Mischenko, 23, was arrested Thursday at her home in

Middletown in Monmouth County. She was fired Friday from her job as a

behavioral therapist with New Horizons in Autism Incorporated, a

nonprofit organization in Neptune.

County authorities said the parents of the child Mischenko was

hired to teach had suspected something was amiss when they noticed he

had bruises and recently became especially agitated.

The parents set up a hidden camera in a playroom and contacted

authorities after watching video of a session Wednesday between their

son and Mischenko.

Maggie Calderwood, an assistant county prosecutor, said the videotape

shows Mischenko kicking and punching the child and pulling his hair,

and the boy appearing to scream as Mischenko squeezed his genitals.

The tape, which had no audio portion, also shows the boy being

squirted in the face with a substance from a syringe, police records

said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Mischenko admitted to the abuse and

to similar actions two weeks before. Her father, Mischenko,

said he is in the process of hiring legal representation for his

daughter and disputed statements she made to authorities.

" She had no benefit of counsel when she talked to the police, and she

was scared to death, " he told the Asbury Park Press in Saturday's

newspapers.

Mischenko was charged with second-degree sexual assault,

child endangerment and third-degree aggravated assault and held in

lieu of $100,000 bail.

Mischenko said his daughter recently completed an inpatient

rehabilitation program. He declined to specify what she was treated

for.

Mischenko had been conducting in-home therapy sessions with the child

since January 2003. Authorities are investigating her work history

and experiences with other clients.

Michele Goodman, executive director for New Horizons, described

Mischenko as a hard worker who had a clean background.

" This whole situation has totally dumbfounded us, " she said.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press .Police: Therapist, caught on

tape, charged with assaulting boy

Email this story

Printer friendly format

Top Stories

New York State Associated Press Association meeting advisory

State to begin pesticide treatment for lampreys

Connecticut Play 3

Connecticut Cash 5

Connecticut Play 4

Enter a Category

View List

September 4, 2004, 4:08 PM EDT

LONG HILL, N.J. -- A therapist hired to teach an autistic boy has

been charged with sexually assaulting and beating the child after the

4-year-old's parents secretly videotaped one of her sessions with

their son.

Mischenko, 23, was arrested Thursday at her home in

Middletown in Monmouth County. She was fired Friday from her job as a

behavioral therapist with New Horizons in Autism Incorporated, a

nonprofit organization in Neptune.

County authorities said the parents of the child Mischenko was

hired to teach had suspected something was amiss when they noticed he

had bruises and recently became especially agitated.

The parents set up a hidden camera in a playroom and contacted

authorities after watching video of a session Wednesday between their

son and Mischenko.

Maggie Calderwood, an assistant county prosecutor, said the videotape

shows Mischenko kicking and punching the child and pulling his hair,

and the boy appearing to scream as Mischenko squeezed his genitals.

The tape, which had no audio portion, also shows the boy being

squirted in the face with a substance from a syringe, police records

said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Mischenko admitted to the abuse and

to similar actions two weeks before. Her father, Mischenko,

said he is in the process of hiring legal representation for his

daughter and disputed statements she made to authorities.

" She had no benefit of counsel when she talked to the police, and she

was scared to death, " he told the Asbury Park Press in Saturday's

newspapers.

Mischenko was charged with second-degree sexual assault,

child endangerment and third-degree aggravated assault and held in

lieu of $100,000 bail.

Mischenko said his daughter recently completed an inpatient

rehabilitation program. He declined to specify what she was treated

for.

Mischenko had been conducting in-home therapy sessions with the child

since January 2003. Authorities are investigating her work history

and experiences with other clients.

Michele Goodman, executive director for New Horizons, described

Mischenko as a hard worker who had a clean background.

" This whole situation has totally dumbfounded us, " she said.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

Anti-ABA-UK

You can see an ABA abuse picture here (more are on the way sadly)

Anti-ABA-UK