http://www.lufkindailynews.com/hp/content/news/stories/2008/12/31/Maddux_Sentence.html
By BRITTONY LUNDThe Lufkin Daily News
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A judge on Tuesday sentenced a Lufkin man to 10 years in prison for beating a partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound man on Halloween night in 2007.
David Maddux, 44, pleaded guilty on Oct. 21 of this year to committing injury to the disabled, a first-degree felony. According to testimony in court Tuesday, Maddux admitted to hitting victim Chris Skelton, but suggested someone else had beaten Skelton worse later.
"He did admit to punching him a few times, but he denied he caused the injuries," said Lisa Page, a probation officer who spoke with Maddux while preparing a pre-sentencing report for state District Judge Paul White. "He suggested someone else may have come in to burglarize the house after he left that night."
Skelton's brother, William Skelton, testified that Chris Skelton's home had, in fact, been burglarized at least three times in the past. But Chris Skelton told his brother and investigators that David Maddux had beat him up.
Chris Skelton suffered a stroke several years ago that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak clearly.
"He can say a few things if you'll be very patient with him," William Skelton said. "He knows what he's trying to say."
Since the assault, Skelton said, his brother falls down a lot more and has lost most of his front teeth. In addition, he said his brother, who used to show little fear of anything, now trembles at the sight of his attacker.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Mind reveals alarming levels of disability hate crime
http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Press/2007_11_29_AA.htm
71 per cent victimised in community in last 2 years64 per cent dissatisfied with authorities' response to crime reports
Today Mind publishes a shocking new report Another assault (1) exposing the extreme levels of harassment and victimisation experienced by people with mental health problems in the community. Mind’s new research reveals that 71 per cent of respondents with mental health problems had been the victim of a crime in the last two years, with just 19 per cent feeling safe all of the time in their own homes. In a further blow, victims' reports of these crimes are frequently not taken seriously by the very authorities that should be there to help them.
71 per cent victimised in community in last 2 years64 per cent dissatisfied with authorities' response to crime reports
Today Mind publishes a shocking new report Another assault (1) exposing the extreme levels of harassment and victimisation experienced by people with mental health problems in the community. Mind’s new research reveals that 71 per cent of respondents with mental health problems had been the victim of a crime in the last two years, with just 19 per cent feeling safe all of the time in their own homes. In a further blow, victims' reports of these crimes are frequently not taken seriously by the very authorities that should be there to help them.
• People with a disability are three times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:He6oT_-Naq0J:www.nds.org.au/conferences/a%26d2005/concurrent/Kelly-SADAProject.doc+disability+assaulted&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=20&gl=us
From research, both international and Australian, we know that:
· 50-90% of people with a disability are sexually assaulted in their lifetime (Crossmaker 1991; Carmody 1990)
· People with a disability are three times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime (Wilson & Brewer 1992)
· High rates of sexual assault by service providers. Service providers, eg. residential care workers, teachers, therapists, make up the largest group of perpetrators in many large studies. (Sobsey & Doe 1991)
· The assaults are more likely to be severe and ongoing, eg. involving penetration. Because many people with disabilities are not taken seriously, or are unable to disclose due to cognitive or communication difficulties, the abuse is likely to have gone on for a long while without being detected, and less likely to be believed and acted on if it is found out.(Nosek 1997)
· The assaults are less likely to be detected and acted on (Connelley & Keilty 2000)
· Offenders gravitate to residential facilities. Moving people out of institutional care has not made them safer. The rates of sexual assault in residential facilities is high, with perpetrators having greater access and opportunity to assault highly vulnerable people. (Blyth 2002)
Offenders will often move from facility to facility. When suspicions arise in one place, they move on. We were contacted recently about an offender who has now sexually assaulted in at least three different facilities. However because he hasn’t been formally charged he is still working with an agency which provides locums to disability and aged care services. He always targets clients with little or no verbal communication.
From research, both international and Australian, we know that:
· 50-90% of people with a disability are sexually assaulted in their lifetime (Crossmaker 1991; Carmody 1990)
· People with a disability are three times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime (Wilson & Brewer 1992)
· High rates of sexual assault by service providers. Service providers, eg. residential care workers, teachers, therapists, make up the largest group of perpetrators in many large studies. (Sobsey & Doe 1991)
· The assaults are more likely to be severe and ongoing, eg. involving penetration. Because many people with disabilities are not taken seriously, or are unable to disclose due to cognitive or communication difficulties, the abuse is likely to have gone on for a long while without being detected, and less likely to be believed and acted on if it is found out.(Nosek 1997)
· The assaults are less likely to be detected and acted on (Connelley & Keilty 2000)
· Offenders gravitate to residential facilities. Moving people out of institutional care has not made them safer. The rates of sexual assault in residential facilities is high, with perpetrators having greater access and opportunity to assault highly vulnerable people. (Blyth 2002)
Offenders will often move from facility to facility. When suspicions arise in one place, they move on. We were contacted recently about an offender who has now sexually assaulted in at least three different facilities. However because he hasn’t been formally charged he is still working with an agency which provides locums to disability and aged care services. He always targets clients with little or no verbal communication.
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