The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida school bus aide is facing a felony child abuse charge after an incident involving a young student with special needs, according to law enforcement.
The case centers on a 9-year-old boy who is nonverbal and autistic and attends an elementary school in Ruskin. The child was riding a Hillsborough County Public Schools bus on a Friday afternoon when the incident allegedly occurred. Investigators say the boy was secured in a harnessed seat when an aide, who was responsible for his care, struck him multiple times.
Surveillance video from inside the school bus reportedly shows the aide hitting the child’s hand and then removing a hat and striking the child on the side of the face. Authorities say the actions appeared deliberate and took place while the child was unable to move away.