Caregiver allegedly gagged nonverbal man with washcloth, tied socks around his face
07/07/2026 6:00 pm PDT
PHOENIX (TCN) -- A 47-year-old man is accused of abusing a nonverbal adult in his capacity as a caregiver, according to court records.
On March 19, Mark Sampson allegedly entered the victim’s room inside a group home to provide care and left about six hours later to take care of another patient, according to a probable cause statement obtained by KNXV. When other caregivers entered the victim’s room later that morning, they found him with a washcloth in his mouth being held in place by socks tied around his head.
The victim, who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal, was reportedly unable to remove the gag because of contracture of the arms and hands and few fine motor skills, according to KNXV. The victim was reportedly not photographed by the other caregivers but is alleged to have suffered abrasions to the lips and ligature marks on his neck, but no severe injuries. He was taken to the hospital to be assessed. His name has not been released.
Sampson has denied the allegations and reportedly said that there was a conspiracy for him to be fired, per KNXV. He does not have a criminal history.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office filed charges on June 26, and bond was set at $25,000.
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