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We've been following this story for months after disturbing video surface showing the teen getting abused
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Fox News' Teresa Priolo is here with tonight's update. Teresa? Yeah, we have two major updates for you tonight. Good evening to both of you
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First, the man that was charged with abusing that autistic teen is sentenced in a Dutchess County court today
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And the whistleblower who helped bring him to justice speaks exclusively to Fox 5 News
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And he tells me this teen was not the only resident being abused. It's just the only incident that he caught on camera
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No! It's this video that exposed a stomach-churning pattern of abuse inside the renowned Anderson Center for Autism in Dutchess County
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A nonverbal autistic teenager cries for his mother as his caregiver, Garnett Collins, grabs him by the genitals in an attempt to make him behave
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Now that caregiver has been sentenced to prison, one to three years for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person
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Judge Edward McLaughlin told the court his hands are tied by the state legislature's sentencing guidelines
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With what she did, the sentence is just too little. For the first time, the man who recorded that video that sparked the criminal investigation speaks exclusively to Fox 5
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sharing why he took the extraordinary step to record the abuse. What was happening was inhumane and it was a violation of the human rights
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Emerson Ferry is from Malawi. He came to New York to learn from the staff at Anderson, hoping to use that knowledge back home in Africa
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What he witnessed instead was abuse. How many kids would you say you saw being abused while you were there Almost everyone Before he recorded the video Emerson says he confronted Garnett Collins which put him at odds with his fellow co
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Then he went to a manager. She said she's going to deal with it
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And also she said that what happened in the house ends in the house
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The abuse didn't stop, so he kept reporting it until he says his managers began retaliating
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Eventually, he decided to record what he was seeing, proof he was telling the truth
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I made everything possible that I have. So it wasn't easy to get those feelings
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In the process, Emerson says Anderson suspended him but wouldn't tell him why
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While he was on suspension, he decided to share this video with the family of the boy
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who suffered the worst of the abuse. And that's when he says he was fired
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Do you regret sharing the video? Do you regret taking the video
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No, I don't regret at all. Not at all. After witnessing today's sentencing, the family told Fox 5, quote
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sitting in the courtroom today and hearing Garnett Collins receiving only one to three years in prison
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for the abuse and sexual assault of our son was another injury inflicted on our family
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The only solace we have is knowing this monster will not be hurting anyone else's son or daughter for the next one year
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But this is not enough. We need to do more. I also reached out to Anderson for comment. They sent us the exact same statement that they have
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provided each time we've aired a story associated with their institution. Today's comment reads
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the allegations of reprehensible conduct are entirely contrary to our values, and we have been fully cooperating with authorities in their thorough investigation
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Yeah, unbelievable. Thanks for following us
