Caregiver allegedly assaulted vulnerable adult at Richland Co. facility, deputies say

Two staff members at a Richland County adult care facility were charged with neglecting a vulnerable adult after one allegedly assaulted a client at the facility, according to an incident report from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Admer Dontavious Prophet, 35, and Kenneth Ruff, 55, are each facing charges of neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult after the incident that happened late last year, according to the report.

An investigation into the pair began after the S.C. Law Enforcement Division received a tip about an assault at Richland County’s S.C. Mentor Network Facility. The center provides programs for clients with physical or intellectual disabilities, according to its website.

According to the report, a client was pushed to the ground in hit in the head by Ruff. After the alleged assault, Prophet told the client to tell everyone that he was lying about what happened to him.

Ruff and Prophet were arrested Jan. 25, according to a statement from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Emily Bohatch

The State

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Emily Bohatch helps cover South Carolina’s government for The State. She also updates The State’s databases. Her accomplishments include winning multiple awards for her coverage of state government and of South Carolina’s prison system. She has a degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E. W. Scripps School of Journalism. Support my work with a digital subscription