Delaware abuse cases reveal struggles prosecuting crimes on disabled
By: Esteban Parra
Delaware News Journal
A 55-year-old man first charged with raping a 14-year-old girl with disabilities after she wandered from school in 2024 was allowed to plea to lesser charges, with prosecutors recommending probation for his crimes.
Haile O. Baird's December plea came about a month after the final case against three Smyrna Elementary School employees, charged with what police called a "pattern of troubling behavior" of abuse and neglect against special needs students, ended with a sentence of probation – the second outcome in that case to end this way. Charges against the third Smyrna employee were dismissed shortly after the case's 2024 filing.
While these case outcomes may appear lenient, experts say they are not uncommon and serve as examples of the difficulty in prosecuting people accused of abusing the Esteban Parra Delaware News Journal Key Points A man initially charged with raping a disabled teen was allowed to plead to lesser charges, highlighting difficulties in prosecuting abuse cases involving people with disabilities. Legal experts say victims' communication abilities make it hard to secure convictions in criminal cases. A separate civil lawsuit has been filed against Haile Baird after Red Clay school district settled its lawsuit over allowing the girl to wander off campus. disabled. Only 3% of sexual abuse cases involving people with disabilities are ever prosecuted and convicted, estimates the Special Needs Alliance, an organization of attorneys that specialize in disability and public benefits law...