Owners of Silent Farm accused of keeping a mentally disabled man in barn

BY ERIKA NORTON
GOSHEN — The owners of Silent Farm in Goshen were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a vulnerable adult and grand larceny.
The New York State Police in Monroe arrested John Quick, 66, on Feb. 8, and Mary Quick, 61, on Feb. 14.
Trooper Steven Nevel said police received a report on Dec. 12, 2016, that a vulnerable adult was living in deplorable conditions at Silent Farm, a commercial horse ranch and bed and breakfast. Members of the Office of Human Services of Orange County Social Services and the Office of Adult Services of Orange County Social Services removed a mentally disabled man, 59, from the stable hand quarters of a barn, where they say he had been living for the past several years.
Police said that, after further investigation, the couple was found to have had assumed control of the man’s bank account and removed funds without authorization.
Both John and Mary Quick are charged with endangering the welfare of a vulnerable adult in the second degree and third-degree grand larceny.
Multiple phone messages left at Silent Farm were not answered. The Orange County Legal Aid Society said none of their attorneys are representing the Quicks. It was unclear by press time if the Quicks have attorneys yet.
John Quick was arraigned in the Village of Florida Court and taken to Orange County Jail in lieu of $500 bail or $1,000 bond. Mary Quick was arraigned in the Village of Florida Court and released on her own recognizance.
Both are scheduled to appear in the Town of Goshen Court in March.
Orange County Assistant Attorney General Christopher Borek said his office does not generally comment on felony cases until there’s been some grand jury action.
Friend says allegations can't be trueThe 85-acre Silent Farm property, located at 35 Axworthy Lane in Goshen, not only operated as a B&B and horse farm, but as a venue for weddings, children’s birthday parties, and other events.
Hana Howell boarded her horse at Silent Farm a few years ago. During that time, she and the Quicks became family friends. When Howell and her family heard the charges against the Quicks, they were very upset, and believe the allegations can't possibly be true.
“The news said he (the alleged victim) was living on three TV dinners a week, but in my own witnessing, groceries had to be rationed to the man due to the fact that he would binge on the food he was given and it would all be gone in a few hours — or he would give it away, or feed snacks like Goldfish crackers to the animals,” Howell said. “He is a kind person, but so is John Quick and his wife.”
Howell said the disabled man was always present when she visited the farm, and appeared well cared for by the Quicks.
"Even if he was telling outlandish stories, he was working mostly alongside John," Howell said.
She said there was never any indication of foul play between John and the man, who was living in a camper with heat and running water at the time.
Howell said she and her family would sometimes see John Quick and the disabled man out in town, usually getting lunch.