A resident at a Wainscott group home was arrested early Sunday morning for sexually abusing another resident. East Hampton Town police said Antoine Chappell, 24, touched another man’s penis while he was sleeping. The victim woke up and called the police at 2:16 a.m.
Residents live together in the Wainscott Northwest Road house, which is operated by Aid to the Developmentally Disabled as part of a licensed housing and community residential program for adults. There is a staff member on duty 24 hours a day.
Detective Sgt. Dan Toia said Mr. Chappell was charged with felony sexual abuse in the first degree because the victim was deemed physically helpless, in that he was asleep and therefore incapable of giving consent.
Town Justice Lisa R. Rana arraigned Mr. Chappell in a video arraignment later on Sunday. With courts closed because of the COVID-19 outbreak, weekend arraignments are now being conducted remotely from town police headquarters.
Mr. Chappell was held on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond at the Suffolk County jail.