Manager Guilty Of Enslaving Mentally Disabled Employee

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Bobby Paul Edwards, 53, pleaded guilty to forcing one of his mentally disabled employees to work more than 100 hours a week without pay.

As revealed through a report from People magazine's online site, Edwards, who was a restaurant manager in the state of South Carolina, abused John Christopher Smith, 30, for a period of approximately five years. years.

The information shared by the publication adds that Smith had worked in the restaurant since he was only 12 years old, where he carried out tasks such as cleaning tables, washing dishes and cooking.

The abuses against the African-American worker began in 2009, when Edwards became the manager of the establishment. First, he increased his working hours, then stopped paying him and began all kinds of physical abuse against the young man, such as hitting him with belts and pots or burning his skin with hot utensils.

Smith, who suffers from delayed cognitive development, revealed to a local network that he never wanted to report his employer as he was intimidated. The abuses occurred until 2014, when the police arrested Edwards after they received numerous complaints of abuse against the young man.

"Combating human trafficking and forced labor is one of the Justice Department's highest priorities and this guilty plea reflects our commitment to seeking justice for victims of human trafficking," said Attorney General John Gore through a statement.

After accepting guilt on the charges against him, Smith could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.