Man charged with abuse of deaf adult

[Miss-Delectable]

James Chester Williams, Jr. charged with abuse of a disabled adult and burglary of an occupied dwelling | Gainesville.com

Gainesville Police arrested a 39-year-old Gainesville man after they say he attacked a deaf neighbor.

Police say James Chester Williams, Jr., had been fighting with his girlfriend and her 15-year-old daughter Saturday evening. He became enraged and started running in circles in the parking lot. His deaf neighbor came outside to see what was happening.

Police say Williams punched the man in the side of the face. The man fled into his apartment, but Williams kicked the door in, threw the man on his sofa and began punching him with both fists in his head and body. Another neighbor ran in and pulled Williams off the man.

Police say Williams told them that he had not been taking his Prozac for two weeks and repeatedly stated, “I need help.” He allegedly told police that he and his deaf neighbor have had an ongoing argument about an unrelated matter.

Williams is charged with abuse of a disabled adult and burglary of an occupied dwelling.

 

[Steinhauer]

I like the charge "abuse of a disabled adult". I have never heard of that charge and I wonder if Gainesville is the only area that has that law or not

 

[Beach girl]

Google is your friend.

Google "abuse of a disabled person" and you'll see many states have commissions about protection of disabled and elderly (though doesn't apply here) persons, and various laws regarding same. The one from Massachusetts (one of the first to pop up) is very thorough and has reporting requirements and so forth.