HAMPDEN, Maine (WABI) – A former Newburgh direct services provider will serve two and a half years in prison after admitting to relentless verbal, physical and sexual abuse of dependent clients over a three-year period at a Hampden facility.
The Maine Department of Health says the facility hasn’t been licensed by the state since last year.
Three other men were also charged with endangering the welfare of a dependent.
I will warn you that the details of this case are extremely disturbing.
Zachary Connors, 26, of Newburgh, pleaded guilty in court in Bangor, according to court records.
The “grotesque and widespread” abuse of the two victims, both of whom have severe intellectual disabilities, took place at Lee Residential Care between January 2019 and January 2022, according to court records.
Rene Dubios III, 47, of Prospect, Michael Slater, 49, of Palmyra and Joshua Martin, 43, of Winterport, are also charged with endangering the welfare of a dependent.
Hampden police and the Attorney General’s Office Medical Unit investigated the incident, according to court records.
Former employees reported verbal, physical and sexual abuse.
Court documents say Connors “led a culture of violence” at one of the facilities, which included waterboarding, repeated beatings of victims’ testicles and sodomy.
According to court records, the defendant continued to choke the victim until she stopped breathing, including at times when he feared she would have a seizure and die.
Connors and Dubois did not call for help, records show.
They also bribed and manipulated residents into engaging in sex acts with each other as part of their entertainment, according to court records.
According to records, Connors hit the victim with a large serving spoon and entertained himself as the victim cried and repeatedly said “no.”
According to court records, a former employee who spoke with investigators said she was fired from the facility the day after reports of disturbing sexual acts involving objects such as remote controls and spray cans were reported.
According to court records, the employees believed Connors had something to do with their firings, after which they were rehired.
The pair also inflicted continuing emotional distress and general abuse on her, records show.
Connors threatened his colleagues with losing their jobs if they spoke out against him.
Connors admitted to the abuse and said it was the result of a toxic environment and extreme boredom, according to court records.
Dubois also admitted to this conduct.
Court documents provide further details about the abuse and torture of the victim, and state that other employees also told investigators that the abuse went on for years, though they couldn’t pinpoint specific times because it happened so frequently.
Records show that on March 3, 2022, an employee reported the abuse to an administrative assistant at Lee Residential Services’ corporate office, which launched an investigation and reported the allegations to the Maine Department of Health.
A statement from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said:
“Adult Protective Services received a report in January 2022 that a staff member had brought a weapon into a group home and immediately reported it to law enforcement. Adult Protective Services received a second report of suspected abuse in March 2022, which was also reported to law enforcement. Law enforcement took the lead in these cases and, as is standard practice, requested that the Ministry defer further investigation.”
“The Department fully supports and cooperates with law enforcement in their investigation and is deeply troubled by the information they have uncovered. The Department recognizes how traumatic this must be, especially for people with disabilities, their families, advocates and others who work with people with IDD in Maine.”
“The provider, Lee Residential Services, is not currently licensed by the State of Maine and will not be licensed after February 2023.
“Our department is working with the Maine Disability Rights Association and their local crisis teams to ensure victims receive assistance.”
TV5 also reached out to Lee Residential Services but did not hear back.
Connors has been released on bail and will begin his sentence on September 30. The other defendants have also been released on bail and are due to return to court in Bangor on October 10.
All men were ordered not to have any contact with victims or work in any medical setting.
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