A former worker at a Quincy autism clinic is facing a felony charge after prosecutors say he indecently assaulted and battered a child during a March therapy session, according to court records. The defendant, Joshua Drenth, was arraigned this week, pleaded not guilty, and was released with conditions that include surrendering his passport and staying away from the center. The child’s parent says she first learned of the allegation after watching a short clip from the center’s surveillance system.
Court documents state that the alleged assault happened on March 31 inside a Bierman Autism Centers location in Quincy and that Drenth is charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, according to Boston 25 News. The filings say staff had previously raised concerns about Drenth’s interactions with children, reportedly describing him as “too touchy.” A not guilty plea was entered in court and Drenth is scheduled to return on June 22.
The boy’s mother, who identified herself only as Marie, told reporters she was shown a short clip on April 7 that she said depicted her son being assaulted. “He was being groped,” she said, adding that the footage made her physically ill and that she filed a police complaint after watching it. Her account was reported by Boston 25 News.
Center response and court status
Bierman Autism Centers told reporters it immediately fired Drenth when it was notified of the allegation and that it reached out to families while cooperating with investigators. The company’s Quincy page lists the clinic at 2300 Crown Colony Drive, Suite 300 and describes on-site ABA, speech, and occupational therapy services. Officials did not release public details about any changes to staffing or screening, beyond stating that they had cooperated with authorities.
What the charge means
Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 is a separate offense under Massachusetts law and is treated as a serious felony. Statutory language and legal summaries describe potential prison exposure and sex offender registration for those convicted. The law classifies children under 14 as legally unable to consent, so prosecutors do not need to prove lack of consent in these cases. For more detail, see Mass. Gen. Laws c.265 §13B and a legal overview by counsel.
Next steps for families
Under Massachusetts law, staff at schools and therapy centers are mandatory reporters, and suspected abuse must be referred to the Department of Children and Families and to law enforcement, according to legal guides. Families frequently ask providers to review video, supervision practices, and internal policies after an allegation surfaces, and providers typically cooperate with criminal investigators while conducting their own internal reviews. The case remains under investigation and Drenth is scheduled to return to Quincy court on June 22.
