Defense: Supervisors, not workers, decided on abuse reports at Pa. youth center that encouraged kids to fight
An attorney representing one of two workers accused of encouraging rather than reporting a fight at a center for young people with developmental and behavior disorders is alleging problems with the culture of the institution
EXTON, Pa. (AP) — An attorney representing one of two former workers accused of encouraging rather than reporting a fight at a center for young people with developmental and behavior disorders is alleging that employees were encouraged to let supervisors decide whether to report problems.
Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Merrick of Coatesville and 24-year-old Rayne Portela of Glenside are charged with failure to report, child endangerment and conspiracy in connection with the July incident at the Devereux Kanner Center in West Whiteland Township.
Portela’s attorney, Evan Kelly, said Sunday that she had been employed there for about three months. He alleges that supervisors encouraged employees to go to them before reporting suspected abuse, and the supervisor would then decide whether the matter would be reported. A Deveraux official didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.