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Employee at School for the Blind arrested for harassing students

Posted at 11:01 AM, Feb 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-23 12:47:00-05

An employee at the New York State School for the Blind was arrested for harassing and endangering three children, according to the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

According to Special Prosecutor Patricia Gunning, Kenneth Darch, 57, allegedly hit two children while on an outing and used abusive language against them. He is also accused of taunting all the three children by telling their bus driver to take them to a local jail and threatened incarceration.

Darch, a Recreation Therapist, has been placed on administrative leave. He is scheduled for another court appearance on March 7.

"People with special needs should never be intimidated, frightened or harassed by the very people who are responsible for caring for them," said Special Prosecutor Gunning. "This case came to light because a conscientious employee witnessed the alleged abuse and reported it."