STANLEY CONVICTED ON MOST CHARGES
Former Northeast Center employee found guilty on 24 of 33 counts; could face up to 25 years
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> The man charged with sexually abusing six male patients at the Northeast Center for Rehabilitation and Brain Injury was found guilty in Ulster County Court on Tuesday of most of the 33 charges he faced.
Jacky Stanley, 50, of Kingston, was found guilty by the seven-woman, five-man jury of 24 counts of sexual abuse, committing a criminal sex act, sex abuse, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and willful violation of health laws.
But he was acquitted of four of the most serious counts of predatory sexual act and three counts of firstdegree criminal sex act.
In finding Stanley not guilty of first-degree criminal sex act, the jurors rejected the prosecution’s claim that Stanley performed oral sex on two of the men by forc-
ible compulsion and that one of the two was incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless.
Jurors found, however, that between July 2014 and February 2015, Stanley used his position as a neighborhood counselor at the center to gain access to the residents to forcibly perform sex acts on the men.
Jurors deliberated for roughly eight hours over two days before handing up the verdict Tuesday afternoon.
Defense Attorney Thomas Melanson and Special Assistant Attorney General William McClarnon declined to comment following the verdict.
In a statement issued following the verdict, state Attorney General Eric Schneidermann said, “Jacky Stanley used his position as a caretaker to commit reprehensible and disturbing acts of abuse. The bravery shown by his victims at trial will help ensure
The prosecution provided no physical evidence and no witnesses to the alleged abuse, and Stanley steadfastly maintained his innocence during police interrogations.
that he will never be able to terrorize vulnerable New Yorkers again.”
The four-day trial was dominated by the testimony of the six accusers.
The prosecution provided no physical evidence and no witnesses to the alleged abuse, and Stanley steadfastly maintained his innocence during police interrogations.
All six accusers testified Stanley molested them in some way. Two said he performed oral sex on them; others said he rubbed or tried to touch their genitals.
One accuser testified he was victimized by Stanley on three different occasions.
All six said the abuse occurred in their rooms, shortly after arriving at the center. One accuser said he was molested the day of his arrival.
Stanley was convicted of crimes related to each victim.
Stanley was a counselor at the Northeast Center and was responsible for helping new residents acclimate to the facility. His duties included managing the social environment and ensuring residents participated in their required programs.
He was suspended and then terminated from the facility based upon allegations of sexual abuse.
He was arrested in July and indicted by an Ulster County grand jury in August.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Stanley faces a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in state prison. Sentencing by Ulster County Judge Donald A. Williams is scheduled for July 28 at 9 a.m.