A Franklin residential program for children with autism is under intense scrutiny after a 14-year-old resident suffered a broken upper arm in an incident that prosecutors say was caught on video. The staff member on duty that day, 27-year-old Saturs Allison, has been indicted on a charge of assault and battery on a disabled person and is scheduled to be arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court.
The episode dates back to last October, when the teen was injured while Allison was working at the facility. The boy was taken to Milford Hospital, where medical records indicate an upper-arm fracture.
According to CBS Boston, Franklin police say Allison was attempting to restrain the 14-year-old when the altercation unfolded. Allison later appeared in Wrentham District Court and declined to answer questions from reporters in the hallway. Her attorney, Edward Sweeney, also declined comment, according to the station.
The Department of Children and Families was notified, and police records cited in the same report indicate Allison was suspended from her job after the incident. Amego, Inc. lists a Franklin school and clinical network location that offers residential services along with an on-site school.
The police report, as described by CBS Boston, references video that allegedly shows Allison push the boy face-first and drive his left arm into the floor, followed by an audible “snapping noise” as the teen screamed. Medical records cited in that account note an upper-arm fracture and confirm the boy’s transport to Milford Hospital for treatment.
A grand jury subsequently returned an indictment, and prosecutors have said Allison’s arraignment is set in Norfolk Superior Court, where the case will formally move into the higher court system.
Legal Consequences
In Massachusetts, assault and battery on an elder or a person with a disability is addressed in Massachusetts General Laws c. 265, § 13K. The statute outlines penalties that increase with the seriousness of the injury. Cases involving bodily injury can carry up to five years in state prison, and more severe injuries can bring longer potential terms.
The law also creates heightened exposure for caretakers who “wantonly or recklessly” permit or cause harm, a detail that prosecutors can consider when deciding how to frame charges in cases that arise in caregiving settings.
About the Provider
Amego describes itself as a provider of Applied Behavior Analysis services, residential supports, and an on-site school for children and young adults with autism. The organization lists a Franklin campus among its Massachusetts locations.
In its public materials, Amego emphasizes staff training and accreditation as central to its care model. Any administrative or licensing outcomes for the agency, however, would hinge on the results of the criminal case and any related child welfare investigations.
Next steps in Allison’s case will be set at her Norfolk Superior Court arraignment, where prosecutors will outline the charge and the defense can enter pleas. Court filings and later hearings are expected to clarify whether there are related administrative actions involving the provider or additional oversight measures by child welfare regulators.
