MOUNT PLEASANT (KDKA) — An employee at a care home is charged with putting a mentally-challenged man in a headlock and punching him in the side.

Adam Kachmarek, 23, is charged with neglecting a care dependent person, simple assault and harassment.

It was pizza night at Valley Community Services in Mount Pleasant. Kachmarek was working the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift when another resident told police that Kachmarek became angry with the victim who was sitting at the dinner table.

“The way it was described to our investigator was that it was a punch to side of the ribs and subsequent headlock that was put on by the employee onto the victim,” State Trooper Steve Limani said.

The victim, who is mentally challenged and hearing impaired, used an interpreter to tell police what happened.

He had a bruise on his side, but was otherwise okay and able to identify Kachmarek as the man who had hit him.

William Janes, executive director of Valley Community Services, released a statement Friday.

“Valley Community Services is cooperating with the state police department with regards to this incident. We follow a protocol promulgated by the Office of Developmental Programs when it comes to allegations of this nature and did so in this incident.”

This is not the first time Kachmarek has been in trouble with the law. In 2010, he was sentenced to two years’ probation for beating his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend with a baseball bat outside the Slovak Club in Mount Pleasant.

Kachmarek, who lives just up the street from the club, didn’t answer the door today when KDKA-TV visited his home to ask about the current charges.

He has been relieved of his duties at valley community services. He’ll be in court next month for a preliminary hearing.

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