Mental health aide charged with shooting men in his care

POUGHKEEPSIE – A 21-year-old Town of Poughkeepsie man has been charged with second degree assault for shooting four mentally retarded men in his care with a BB rifle.

Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Ryan Howley for allegedly shooting the men, ages 47 to 70, several times as a means of meting out punishment. He worked as a direct care aid at for the Dutchess County Association of Retarded Citizens.

The four men he allegedly attacked are described as profoundly mentally retarded and unable to communicate.

Police said they suffered welts on their faces and bodies after Howley shot them several times over a period of three weeks.

The gun was described as an M-16 A3 6mm BB bullet air sport gun that looks much like an assault rifle.

Howley was arraigned and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail on $25,000 bail.