The owners and staff of an unlicensed day support centre for people with disabilities in Vaughan are facing assault charges.
York Regional Police have been investigating the Hope Centre, located on Romina Drive, since August 2017, after a family member reported their concerns about possible abuse against a relative. Police say that the investigation unveiled additional victims.
On Oct. 13 police say they executed a search warrant for the Hope Centre and arrested the owner of the facility, 47-year-old Rosalina Panetta as well as her husband and son.
Speaking with CTV News Toronto on the phone, Panetta said she did not have “the energy” to speak on this matter but added that she will “of course” be fighting these charges.
Panetta is charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life, assault, and fraud. Her 41-year-old husband Giuseppe Morana, from Kleinburg, Ont. is facing one charge of assault while her son Onofiro DeFina, 27, is facing the following three charges: failing to provide the necessaries of life, forcible confinement and assault.
The charges already laid are in relation to two victims, police said.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
Investigators said they believe there may be other victims as they are currently speaking to two other possible victims who attended the facility.
