Police say man assaulted care-dependent individual

From staff reports

Details have been released in the case against a Kennerdell man accused of assaulting a care-dependent man with cerebral palsy at an Easter Seals home earlier this month.

Tyler James Watson, 27, who, according to a criminal complaint filed by Franklin state police through District Judge Andrew Fish’s office on Thursday, was employed by Easter Seals to care for individuals in a home on Park Avenue, in Cornplanter Township.

On Sept. 2, the complaint said, Watson overextended the man’s right arm, which caused injury to the man’s right bicep.

At 3 p.m. the same day, Watson slapped the man across the face 10 to 12 times “because he was screaming in the living room area,” the complaint said.

A short time later, the complaint said, Watson slapped the man across the face repeatedly while in the man’s bedroom, leaving redness and a welt on the man’s face.

Watson confessed to the incident on Sept. 7, the complaint said.

Watson has been charged with misdemeanor counts of neglect of a care-dependent person; strikes, shoves, kicks or attempts/threatens care-dependent person; and simple assault.

Watson also has been charged with summary counts of harassment-subject other to physical contact and harassment – course of conduct with no legitimate purpose.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 23 in Venango County Central Court.