A former direct care aide in Lackawanna is facing jail time.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn on Tuesday announced that Derrick Warburton II, 37, of Cheektowaga was found guilty of a felony charge of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, which was the only charge in an indictment against him.
The verdict was delivered at a one-day bench trial last month in Erie County Court.
Warburton was accused of intentionally hitting and kicking a juvenile resident with autism in his care while working as a behavior support technician at a Lackawanna residential facility on April 23, 2019. Flynn said the incident was witnessed by another caregiver.
Warburton is currently free on his own recognizance, since the charge does not qualify for bail. He will be sentenced on April 14 and faces a maximum of four years in prison.
