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Wednesday, 02 July 2008 17:43 |
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 An administrator at an area group home for the mentally handicapped is arrested for the sexual abuse and rape of female employees. Terry Wallingford, 45, was arrested Tuesday by Harrodsburg police and charged with three counts of sexual abuse and one count of rape.
A lawsuit has also been filed against Wallingford and the home, which is New Hope Agency LLC in Burgin. The lawsuit was filed by a minority partner, David Orwick. Orwick and his attorney, Bruce Simpson, say they discovered the abuse while interviewing employees about financial issues. Although Wallingford is the only employee charged at this time, other employees have been mentioned in the lawsuit for allegedly abusing residents.
One employee claims she’s observed residents lying in their own urine for an entire weekend. Another says she witnessed a supervisor repeatedly hit a 14 year-old resident, while calling him racial slurs. Another says Wallingford required the residents call him, “Daddy.” An employee also claims a resident told her that a relative of Wallingford had forced her to have anal intercourse with him. New Hope LLC staff issued this statement over the phone:
“We are insuring the health and safety and welfare of the remaining residents, and we will continue to do so.”Vikki Franklin, spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, says a full investigation has been launched into the agency, and that they are monitoring the health and safety of the residents. Wallingford is currently being held at the Boyle County Detention Center. New Hope Agency LLC holds between 20 and 25 mentally disabled adults and children, and employs between 40 and 50 people.
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