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Supervisor At Staten Island Psychiatric Center Charged In Death Of Autistic Patient Jawara Henry

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A supervisor at a Staten Island facility has been indicted on a criminally negligent homicide charge in the death of an autistic patient last year.

The Staten Island district attorney's office said Erik Stanley, of Middletown, N.J., pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

The developmental aide supervisor also is charged with endangering the patient's welfare.

The medical examiner determined Jawara Henry died Dec. 4 of asphyxiation by neck and chest compression at the South Beach Psychiatric Center.

An eight-month investigation found that Stanley did not follow protocol or use proper techniques while trying to restrain the patient. At the time, Henry was agitated and biting staff and other patients.

Stanley's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.

The facility is run by a division of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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