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7.18.2012

family charged with abusing mentally disabled adults

Sickened by news like this... In San Jose, a family of five is charged with abusing about a dozen mentally disabled clients, all of whom lived in their unlicensed care facility: George Nguyen, Jennifer Ngo, Charles Nguyen, Margaret Ngo Abused Mentally Disabled Adults, San Jose Cops Say .

The victims, mostly Vietnamese immigrants who speak little English and are unable to tend to themselves, were reportedly beaten, starved and not even allowed to use toilet paper. They were forced to live in nighmarish conditions with twenty-five dogs among rotting food, urine and feces.
Investigators say the alleged victims — many suffering from schizophrenia and other disorders —told them that they were not always given their medication. They were kept in small rooms virtually all day and their Social Security checks were being taken by the suspects.

Outside, the home featured tall mesh fencing and a handful of surveillance cameras on site.

“It doesn’t appear the victims were free to go about in the house,” Huang said. “There was excrement and urine virtually all around the house That was a very troubling issue.”

In May, police removed the victims and placed them under protective custody at a licensed care center. However, someone checked a handful of the victims out of the hospital and returned them to the house, along with 21 dogs for about a month.

Again, police arrived at the home and removed three victims and the dogs on July 2, Huang said.
Suspects George Dac Nguyen, Jennifer Ngo, Charles Nguyen and Margaret Ngo are in custody and charged with dependent adult abuse and animal neglect for their roles in the abuse. They're due back in court on August 21. An arrest warrant has been issued for a fifth suspect, Kathy Le.

More here: San Jose caretakers accused of abusing mentally-ill people are jailed after court appearance.