Newburgh Group Home Employee Arrested for Allegedly Beating Blind, Developmentally Disabled Resident

News 12 has learned that an employee at a state group home for people with developmental disabilities in Orange County has been fired after she was arrested for allegedly assaulting a blind and severely developmentally disabled man .

The victim's sister, Kelly Mirro, cried during an exclusive interview with News 12 about the alleged attack.

“He was pulled across the room by his hair, hit. He was thrown into a chair. Sworn at. She pulled him by the ear to the point where he had marks,” she said.

The abuse allegations are detailed in a Newburgh town police report obtained by News 12, which says a witness reported that his babysitter, Heather Pollison, assaulted William Mirro, 41, in Letchworth Village on the route 300 in April. Mirro's sister provided News 12 with photos of Mirro's injuries showing a bloody cut above his eye and marks on his ear.

“He’s still there,” says Kelly Mirro. “We're trying to get it out. It's falling on deaf ears. I'm sending emails every day because we don't feel safe.”

William Mirro suffers from severe autism and Smith-Magenis syndrome, according to his sister.

Pollison is accused of slapping William Mirro and pinching the man's ear during the incident while degrading the group home resident and throwing him against chairs.

The facility is overseen by the Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities Services Organization and the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. The OPWWD says the abuse is not tolerated and the worker is no longer employed by them.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said Pollison was charged with attempted assault and harassment.

His sister says she wants justice for her brother and others.

“Justice for Billy is justice for everyone like him because our story is everyone’s story,” says Kelly Mirro.

News 12 reached out to Letchworth Village for comment but has not received a response.

The victim's sister says prosecutors told her the charges against Pollison could end up being dismissed since the group home resident can't verbalize what happened and the witness might no longer want to testify in the case.

News 12 has called officials for more information.