The Associated Press Updated 6:06 PM Thursday, September 17, 2009
CLEVELAND — Three former employees of a suburban treatment center for troubled teens pleaded not guilty Thursday in the death of a girl who suffocated after being restrained face down on the floor.
Cynthia King, Lazarita Menendez and Ebony Ray denied charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick. Menendez also pleaded not guilty to felonious assault and inciting to violence.
The women were fired from the Parmadale Family Services center in Parma after the Dec. 13 death of Faith Finley, who choked on vomit and suffocated after being restrained with a control technique that's now prohibited in the state. Two of the women are accused of wrestling Finley to the ground on her chest and applying pressure to her back, a technique known as prone restraint, while the third watched.
King's lawyer, Kevin Spellacy, said she has cooperated with authorities during their investigation of the 17-year-old girl's death.
"It's our belief, while it's a tragic event, there's no criminal culpability on her end," he said.
Prosecutors have said King, 32, of Warrensville Heights, was watching Finley after the restraint method was used and dozed off in a nearby chair as the girl lay on a tile floor, checking on her about two hours later.
Menendez, 28, of Bedford Heights, faces the additional charges because she initiated the incident by taking Finley's CD player, which the girl used to calm herself, and shoved the girl's hand under her as she lay on the floor, prosecutors said.
Her lawyer, David Doughten, said he had recently been retained and wasn't able to comment on the charges.
A telephone message seeking comment was left Thursday for an attorney representing Ray, 33, of Broadview Heights.
All three women remain free after posting bonds of $5,000 each.
The type of restraint the women used was banned by Gov. Ted Strickland in August at the recommendation of several state agencies, which cited evidence that it carries a high risk of serious injury or death.
Cleveland-based Catholic Charities, which operates Parmadale, has said the organization has cooperated with authorities and taken measures, including extensive training of staff members, to ensure that residents are kept safe.
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September 17, 2009 10:00 PM EDT
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