Staff member at Houston care facility for people with disabilities charged with sexually assaulting disabled resident

From KHOU-TV:

HOUSTON — A staff member at a care facility for disabled persons is accused of sexually assaulting a mentally and physically handicapped resident.

Rickie Thompson, a 53-year-old convicted felon with a criminal history dating back to 1975, was charged Monday with aggravated sexual assault of a disabled person.

He was being held in the Harris County Jail without bond.

According to investigators, Thompson was working at a personal care home in May 2010 when he assaulted a 23-year-old resident who was incapable of understanding or resisting his advances.

Once the allegations surfaced, an investigation was launched, culminating in the charges filed Monday.

The victim, who is now a ward of Harris County, became disabled in 1989, when she was severely beaten as an infant.

She suffered blindness and brain damage from the abuse.

Court documents state that Thompson has prior convictions of burglary with the intent to commit theft and delivery of a controlled substance.

He was out on parole at the time of the alleged assault.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the Dept. of Aging and Disability Services was assisting them in the investigation.