Published: August 17, 2009 11:36 pm      

Caregiver accused of assault, neglect

A Johnstown man was jailed Monday after city police said he allegedly assaulted a dependent man under his care.

In a court document, city police said they were called to Vine Street Towers, where a caller said a mentally ill person had been assaulted and may have had broken bones in his face.

Police said when they arrived at the apartment building they found the victim with two black eyes, one swollen shut, and bruises on his forehead.

His caregiver, James Franklin Miller, reportedly instructed the man to tell police he had fallen.

Police said the victim is mentally disabled and is afraid of his part-time caregiver, who has power of attorney.

Miller, 48, of the 100 block of Cookie Town Road, was arraigned by on-call District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco on charges of neglect of care for a dependent person, simple assault and intimidating a witness or victim.

He was sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of his $5,000 bond.