Health care worker accused of punching mentally disabled man in head in Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (WABC) -- Police in Middletown say a medical worker is accused of punching a mentally disabled man in the head.

25-year-old James Damey is accused of hitting a 36-year-old mentally disabled man who was under his care.

The victim was recovering from surgery at Orange Regional Medical Center.

Damey was employed by an agency that provides residential services to the mentally disabled in Sullivan County.

He no longer works for that agency.

Damey was arrested on August 16th and charged with endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person in the first degree, a felony, and assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

Damey is due back in court on September 8th in the Town of Wallkill.