A therapist accused of abusing an autistic, nonverbal child during a therapy session made his first appearance in court Saturday.
That’s where a Palm Beach County judge set his bond at $7,500 and ordered him to have no contact with the victim.
RG is charged with felony child abuse. Police said G turned himself in on Friday following an investigation by the Lake Clarke Shores Police Department.
According to authorities, surveillance video shows G throwing a ball and then a shoe at close range at the child during a therapy session at Maximum Achievers. The alleged incident happened Monday, February 23. The center said the employee seen in the video has since been fired. The video was shared with CBS12 News. (**Warning: Viewer discretion advised.**)
The child’s mother tells CBS12 News that she noticed bruising and a bite mark on her son’s back after the session. She reported the incident to both the therapy center and the police.
“I just want justice. I just want justice for my son. I honestly wanted it to be a lie. I wanted it to not be true. I wanted it to be something else,” said Diana Hernandez, the victim’s mother.
G bonded out of the Palm Beach County Jail over the weekend.
“He’s traumatized, but I’m just so surprised how strong he is. He’s still smiling,” said Hernandez.
Nicole Bishop, Director of Palm Beach County Victim Services, said children with disabilities are especially vulnerable to abuse and urged caregivers to be alert to changes in behavior.
“Children are vulnerable victims, and especially children who have any type of disability, or any people actually with disabilities, they are more susceptible to being harmed by others,” said Bishop.
Bishop said suspected abuse can be reported to Florida’s abuse hotline or through the Department of Children and Families.
G’s case remains under investigation.
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Source: cbs12
