Baltimore County Resident Counselor Charged with Abuse
of a Vulnerable Adult

BALTIMORE, MD ( April 16, 2010) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Damion Javier Kennedy, 41, of the 3900 block of Noyes Circle in Randallstown, was indicted by a Baltimore County Circuit Court grand jury on one count of first degree abuse of a vulnerable adult, one count of second degree abuse of a vulnerable adult and one count of second degree assault. Kennedy, a resident counselor at a home for the developmentally disabled in Baltimore County, allegedly threw a resident into furniture. As a result of his injuries, the resident was hospitalized for nine days.

First degree abuse of a vulnerable adult is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. Second degree abuse of a vulnerable adult is a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Second degree assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $2,500 fine.

The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Criminal charges are but an accusation of wrongdoing, and an individual is presumed innocent unless the State proves him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. An arraignment is scheduled for May 25, 2010 in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.