- April 16, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Donald Viers was an employee at United Cerebral Palsy, where the victim was a client.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
Donald Viers, 59, of Ormond Beach, has been arrested and charged with sexual battery of a mentally disabled person.
An employee at United Cerebral Palsy, Viers was taken into custody Jan. 29, after the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said he had the adult victim, a United Cerebral Palsy client, touch his exposed penis while in a car June 2. He later sexually battered her at his house the same day.
Viers was a floor supervisor with United Cerebral Palsy, and he denied all allegations to investigators.
The organization became aware of the incident June 4, notified the Department of Children and Families and placed Viers on administrative leave the next day when he reported to work.
He was fired by the organization June 29, according to a company statement.
The Sheriff’s Office reports Viers admitted to setting up a social engagement involving the victim and a male United Cerebral Palsy client, during which he took them to his house.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the group’s policy prohibits employees from socializing with clients. Viers initially declined being aware of the policy, the Sheriff’s Office said, and he later declined to comment after being shown the policy document he signed during his hiring.
The victim told law enforcement that Viers picked her up from her Palm Coast home and took her to his house in Ormond Beach, where he showered and then told her they were going to pick up the male United Cerebral Palsy client, who was the victim’s boyfriend.
When he got out of the shower, Viers walked around naked and tried to have sex with the victim, she said, but she resisted. Then Viers and the victim left to pick up the other male, and they then returned to Viers’ home.
On the drive back to Viers’ house, the victim told law enforcement he opened his pants and put her hand on his penis.
Once back at his home, Viers took the sheets and blankets off the bed, and the victim and her boyfriend began having sex.
Viers then took off his clothes, the victim told law enforcement, and raped her.
United Cerebral Palsy said Viers cleared a background check in 2009 when he was hired, and also completed abuse and neglect training May 21, 2012, approximately two weeks before the alleged incident.
The organization also said they had received no prior complaints against Viers.
“The participants involved are still receiving services from us,” the organization said in a statement. “Their families indicated to us that they wanted to continue in our programs because they felt they were safe and enhanced their quality of life.”
