Poughkeepsie Center for Autism worker sentenced in abuse case

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- A Poughkeepsie man was sentenced to one to three years in prison after admitting to endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. According to the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, Garnet Collins, pleaded guilty to the charge in January.

Collins was arrested in August 2024 after state police began investigating two incidents involving two different residents at the Anderson Center for Autism. He was originally charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and one count of forcible touching.

In January, he admitted that on June 5, 2024, and on June 12, 2024, he grabbed a resident by the testicles and struck another victim in the head with an object.

Officials said the victims were residents who were unable to care for themselves because of physical disability, mental disease, or mental defect.

"This was an incredibly difficult and emotional case, involving the care of two profoundly vulnerable adults. My office approached the matter with the utmost seriousness and compassion. While we respect the deep pain and frustration expressed by one of the victim's family, the resolution sought by them would have required us to disregard the law, compromise our ethical obligations, and impose a punishment unsupported by the law, the facts and the evidence," District Attorney Anthony Parisi said. "We believe the sentence handed down by Judge McLoughlin reflects a just outcome based on the facts and the law."