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Judge: Court won’t cover psychological fees for mother accused of trying to kill her kids

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West Pittston Moose Lodge donates to Red Cross

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Police have charged a residential program worker of Community Living Arrangements with sexually assaulting a non-verbal, bedridden client of the facility.</p><p>Andrew Dula III, 53, of Shickshinny, faces a single felony charge of institutional sexual assault. In an interview with police weeks after the incident, Dula allegedly admitted the inappropriate behavior to police.</p><p>According to the criminal complaint, the alleged abuse stretches back further than an incident in February that sparked a police investigation.</p><p>Police were contacted by the emergency department of Geisinger Wyoming Valley on Feb. 3 for a report that a woman was being examined for possible sexual assault. Police learned the victim was a resident of Community Living Arrangement, a 36-year-old woman with &#8220;severe&#8221; mental disabilities and spastic cerebral palsy.</p><p>During the course of the investigation, police learned from a staff member of the facility they heard a woman screaming while Dula was changing her diaper at 1 a.m. on Feb. 3. Startled by the scream, the staff member investigated and allegedly found the victim not positioned on the bed as she normally would be for the change.</p><p>The staff member also told police the woman was naked from the waist down, and Dula was allegedly holding her legs in his arms. The woman began whining and reaching for the staff member while Dula was present, who police said removed a clean diaper from the woman and had a new one in his hand.</p><p>The staff member also allegedly saw a thumb print bruise on the woman&#8217;s right upper thigh.</p><p>When asked about what happened by the staff member, Dula allegedly said he didn&#8217;t know what happened and that the victim was &#8220;acting weird.&#8221;</p><p>After the staff member questioned Dula further, Dula allegedly remained in the facility&#8217;s basement for the rest of his shift except to conduct later checks until his shift ended at 7 a.m. Police said the behavior was unusual, as Dula would not typically stay in the basement without returning to the first floor of the facility to fulfill other duties.</p><p>Police said further investigation revealed Dula &#8220;took an usually long time&#8221; to tend to the woman&#8217;s needs on previous occasions and allegedly spent an excessive amount of time alone in the woman&#8217;s bedroom. Dula had also been allegedly advised by residential program workers to not change the woman&#8217;s diapers if they were still dry.</p><p>Police said prior to the alleged incident on Feb. 3, the victim began to display a change in behavior whenever Dula was near her. A worker told police she would become &#8220;anxious&#8221; when Dula arrived and would not sleep well on evenings Dula worked.</p><p>In one instance, a worker told police the victim &#8220;freaked out&#8221; when Dula went into the room when she was receiving her medication, and she allegedly clawed at another worker&#8217;s neck.</p><p>Police said the victim was examined at the hospital, a sexual assault evidence kit was collected and police were notified.</p><p>On Feb. 5, Dula voluntarily went to police headquarters for an interview, during which he allegedly admitted to having inappropriate physical contact with the woman.</p><p>Dula was arraigned on the charges before Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts on Tuesday, and is scheduled to appear before Roberts for a preliminary hearing March 31.</p><p>Dula is currently free on $25,000 bail.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Community Living Services caregiver charged after allegedly sexually assaulting mentally disabled, non-verbal client