A substitute teacher is facing charges after allegedly abusing a student and allowing his classmates to beat him up.
On the morning of February 12 at the YMCA Tiger Academy in Jacksonville, a child was reportedly injured and abused by his teacher. The woman, who was a substitute at the Academy, allegedly became frustrated with the boy’s behavior and egged on four students who offered to beat him up. Additionally, it was reported that the teacher did not intervene during the attacks. After the other youngsters were finished, the woman allegedly handled the child roughly and caused his head to slam into a desk.
The teacher asked for help, and when she talked to two employees, she reportedly said the youngster needed to be punished. The students in the classroom at the time of the incident gave their accounts of what happened, and said the substitute encouraged others to hit the alleged victim. It was reported that the woman was fired from her job, and the authorities were notified. The following day, the police collected evidence from the scene and filed for an arrest warrant.
On March 1, the 57-year-old woman was taken into custody. When she spoke to the authorities about the incident, she said she did not do what they accused her of, and that she only tried to pick up the youngster. She also said she had nothing to do with the students fighting. She was transported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of a third-degree felony count of child abuse, and four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Five days later, she was released on bond with the condition of having no contact with the alleged victim.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.