Poughkeepsie Center for Autism worker pleas guilty in abuse case

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- A Poughkeepsie man is facing a possible sentence of one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. The Dutchess County District Attorney's Office said Garnet Collins pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Collins admitted in his guilty plea that he took part in injurious conduct to the mental, physical, and moral welfare of residents at the Anderson Center for Autism in Hyde Park on June 5 and June 12, 2024. Officials said the victims were residents who were unable to care for themselves because of physical disability, mental disease, or mental defect.

Collins is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2. District Attorney Anthony Parisis said Collins' actions are a grave violation of trust.

"The defendant endangered the well-being of people who relied on him for their care," Parisi said. "This conviction serves as a reminder that those entrusted with the care of vulnerable individuals must be held accountable for their actions, and the safety and welfare of those individuals must always come first."