PORT ST. LUCIE — An aide on a school bus primarily for special-needs children is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly hitting a 7-year-old boy, police said Friday.
Belinda "Gail" Daniels, 45, of the 1900 block of Avenue K in Fort Pierce, allegedly struck the special-needs child Sept. 12 on the ride to school, and police and school district officials ensured she "was no longer on a bus," Officer Cherie Lucas said.
PDF: Read the arrest report.
Lucas said video captured by cameras on the bus, which had about eight children on it at the time, played a key role in the case.
The victim, who was sitting down, reportedly dropped his bookbag and was bending down to reach it when Daniels picked it up from the seat behind him.
"Daniels yells at the victim, saying, 'Boy, what did you do? Get in that seat,' " Lucas wrote in a portion of a warrant application that summarizes the video. "
She then reaches into the seat where the victim was, and she 'swats' something in the seat, but you cannot actually see what her hand connects with."
Lucas said one witness reportedly saw Daniels' hand make contact with the victim.
"I believe in my mind that any reasonable person looking at that video would believe that the child was struck," Lucas said. "It substantiated everything that the original witness, the complainant, told me."
Daniels then yanked the victim up and "roughly" put him in the seat, Lucas said.
But Daniels told investigators she hit no one.
"I would never do anything to put my job in jeopardy," she is quoted as saying in a warrant application. "I am a Christian woman who reads my Bible and I listen to my gospel music."
St. Lucie County Schools Personnel Director Maurice Bonner said Daniels as of Friday is still a district employee. Bonner said the district is aware of the incident and is investigating the issue and won't comment until after the investigation is completed.
It took several days for police to determine the victim's identity, get statements from witnesses, question Daniels and consult with the state attorney's office. The victim wasn't injured and "had no knowledge of what happened," Lucas said.
Daniels was arrested in 1985 on a fraud charge and convicted, though an unemployment fraud charge brought against her in 1994 was dropped, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
Janice Karst, school district spokeswoman, said convicted felons aren't eligible for employment with the district, but those with misdemeanor convictions can be hired depending on what the misdemeanor was and if the applicant is forthcoming with the information. But if the charge relates to "moral turpitude" or is "anything that would negatively impact their being around students" or school operations, then they likely wouldn't be hired.
Daniels received generally high evaluations dating back to 2001, according to school district records.
A 2003 evaluation notes she's a "very compassionate and caring individual" and "goes above and beyond her duties to assist with difficult situations."
Daniels was released Friday afternoon from the St. Lucie County jail on $1,000 bail, a jail official said.
Staff writer Keona Gardner contributed to this report.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
PRELIMINARY HEARING: Abuse recalled in court
Teacher hurt autistic kids, aide testifies
By K.C. HOWARD
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Oct. 11, 2007
Latasha Burse was working as a teacher's aide in a classroom of autistic students at Reed Elementary School in March when she heard a loud bang.
Burse testified in Justice Court on Wednesday that she turned around and saw the teacher, Mamie Hubbard-Washington, with her hand on the back of a 9-year-old autistic boy's neck.
Burse surmised that the teacher had just slammed the child's face onto the top of a table.
The boy, Matthew, was crying, which was uncharacteristic for him, Burse said.
Hubbard-Washington told the child to stop crying and left for lunch. Burse and another teacher's aide cleaned Matthew's mouth in the bathroom and took him to eat.
"His tooth was chipped, and his lip was bleeding," Burse said.
It was one of several suspicious injuries Matthew suffered in Hubbard-Washington's class that spring, prompting his mother to pull him out of the school before the end of the school year.
Hubbard-Washington, 64, is facing five felony charges of child abuse and neglect for injuries authorities allege she inflicted on her autistic students at Reed in 2006 and 2007. Wednesday was the second and final day of testimony in her preliminary hearing that will determine whether she will stand trial on the charges.
Burse and another teacher's aide testified Wednesday that they saw Hubbard-Washington hit, pinch, push and verbally abuse the children.
Parents testified on the first day of the hearing, Sept. 26, that after their children were placed in Hubbard-Washington's class, they started coming home with bruises on their hands, back or abdomen.
Because of their autism, many of the children do not speak.
Hubbard-Washington's attorney, Vince Consul, has said the allegations raised by the teacher's aides and parents aren't specific enough. They cannot, for instance, cite the dates on which much of the alleged abuse occurred.
Consul also said it can't be proven that the injuries occurred at the hands of Hubbard-Washington rather than on the playground or school bus.
Hubbard-Washington has denied the allegations, saying she has taught special education students since 1985 and had never been accused of abuse until now. The allegations are spurred by greed, she said, noting the parents are planning to file a lawsuit against the Clark County School District.
Aram Kouyoumdjian, an attorney representing the families, attended both days of the preliminary hearing. He said Wednesday that no suit had been filed.
Burse said she began to notice the teacher's abusive behavior a few months after Hubbard-Washington arrived at the school in January 2006.
She said she reported what she saw to her supervisor, Assistant Principal Randy Cheung.
Burse said it seemed as though the school's administrators were constantly investigating the teacher.
"The principal and assistant principal were in our room all the time," Burse said.
Cheung was set to testify for the defense Wednesday, but Justice of the Peace William Jansen advised him to speak with an attorney first because of potential civil litigation against the district.
The principal, Karen Bennett, previously testified that school officials initially had difficulties verifying some of the complaints raised by the aides and parents. After spending weeks investigating, school officials took the allegations to school district police on May 2. The district placed Hubbard-Washington on administrative leave on May 4.
Burse said Matthew was the first student she saw Hubbard-Washington go after. The teacher would hit Matthew "full force" with a yardstick "anywhere below the neck," Burse said.
She said she also saw Hubbard-Washington hit a student named Chris, who would often bang his head against his desk. Burse said Hubbard-Washington hit him on the head with a closed fist.
She recalled Hubbard-Washington telling the boy, "You better stop hitting your head or else I'll hit you."
On March 20, Burse said, Chris was cramming pizza into his mouth and Hubbard-Washington grabbed him by the back of the neck and "pushed his head into the trash can until he swallowed his food."
Burse also recalled Hubbard-Washington brushing the hair of the only girl in the classroom, a 7-year-old. But if the girl, Joanna, started to cry, Hubbard-Washington would strike her on the head with the brush, Burse said.
Another teacher's aide, Shari Pedrol-Little, testified that she left Hubbard-Washington's classroom in November 2006 after suffering a nervous breakdown.
She said Hubbard-Washington created a tense environment when she yelled at the children in the classroom, prompting them to act out.
In court, Pedrol-Little had to review her May statement to police to recall most of Hubbard-Washington's alleged abuses. The breakdown, she said, had affected her memory.
She said she witnessed Hubbard-Washington calling Joanna fat and at other times forcing food into her mouth.
She also recalled that Hubbard-Washington would hit Matthew with a yardstick and would strike the girl on the head with a brush "and tell her to shut up" if she began crying.
Jansen said he wants to review transcripts of the hearing before he listens to closing arguments and decides whether Hubbard-Washington will face the charges in District Court.
Consul and prosecutors Vicki Monroe and Noreen Nyikos are to argue the case before the judge on Oct. 31.
Contact reporter K.C. Howard at khoward@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.
By K.C. HOWARD
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Oct. 11, 2007
Latasha Burse was working as a teacher's aide in a classroom of autistic students at Reed Elementary School in March when she heard a loud bang.
Burse testified in Justice Court on Wednesday that she turned around and saw the teacher, Mamie Hubbard-Washington, with her hand on the back of a 9-year-old autistic boy's neck.
Burse surmised that the teacher had just slammed the child's face onto the top of a table.
The boy, Matthew, was crying, which was uncharacteristic for him, Burse said.
Hubbard-Washington told the child to stop crying and left for lunch. Burse and another teacher's aide cleaned Matthew's mouth in the bathroom and took him to eat.
"His tooth was chipped, and his lip was bleeding," Burse said.
It was one of several suspicious injuries Matthew suffered in Hubbard-Washington's class that spring, prompting his mother to pull him out of the school before the end of the school year.
Hubbard-Washington, 64, is facing five felony charges of child abuse and neglect for injuries authorities allege she inflicted on her autistic students at Reed in 2006 and 2007. Wednesday was the second and final day of testimony in her preliminary hearing that will determine whether she will stand trial on the charges.
Burse and another teacher's aide testified Wednesday that they saw Hubbard-Washington hit, pinch, push and verbally abuse the children.
Parents testified on the first day of the hearing, Sept. 26, that after their children were placed in Hubbard-Washington's class, they started coming home with bruises on their hands, back or abdomen.
Because of their autism, many of the children do not speak.
Hubbard-Washington's attorney, Vince Consul, has said the allegations raised by the teacher's aides and parents aren't specific enough. They cannot, for instance, cite the dates on which much of the alleged abuse occurred.
Consul also said it can't be proven that the injuries occurred at the hands of Hubbard-Washington rather than on the playground or school bus.
Hubbard-Washington has denied the allegations, saying she has taught special education students since 1985 and had never been accused of abuse until now. The allegations are spurred by greed, she said, noting the parents are planning to file a lawsuit against the Clark County School District.
Aram Kouyoumdjian, an attorney representing the families, attended both days of the preliminary hearing. He said Wednesday that no suit had been filed.
Burse said she began to notice the teacher's abusive behavior a few months after Hubbard-Washington arrived at the school in January 2006.
She said she reported what she saw to her supervisor, Assistant Principal Randy Cheung.
Burse said it seemed as though the school's administrators were constantly investigating the teacher.
"The principal and assistant principal were in our room all the time," Burse said.
Cheung was set to testify for the defense Wednesday, but Justice of the Peace William Jansen advised him to speak with an attorney first because of potential civil litigation against the district.
The principal, Karen Bennett, previously testified that school officials initially had difficulties verifying some of the complaints raised by the aides and parents. After spending weeks investigating, school officials took the allegations to school district police on May 2. The district placed Hubbard-Washington on administrative leave on May 4.
Burse said Matthew was the first student she saw Hubbard-Washington go after. The teacher would hit Matthew "full force" with a yardstick "anywhere below the neck," Burse said.
She said she also saw Hubbard-Washington hit a student named Chris, who would often bang his head against his desk. Burse said Hubbard-Washington hit him on the head with a closed fist.
She recalled Hubbard-Washington telling the boy, "You better stop hitting your head or else I'll hit you."
On March 20, Burse said, Chris was cramming pizza into his mouth and Hubbard-Washington grabbed him by the back of the neck and "pushed his head into the trash can until he swallowed his food."
Burse also recalled Hubbard-Washington brushing the hair of the only girl in the classroom, a 7-year-old. But if the girl, Joanna, started to cry, Hubbard-Washington would strike her on the head with the brush, Burse said.
Another teacher's aide, Shari Pedrol-Little, testified that she left Hubbard-Washington's classroom in November 2006 after suffering a nervous breakdown.
She said Hubbard-Washington created a tense environment when she yelled at the children in the classroom, prompting them to act out.
In court, Pedrol-Little had to review her May statement to police to recall most of Hubbard-Washington's alleged abuses. The breakdown, she said, had affected her memory.
She said she witnessed Hubbard-Washington calling Joanna fat and at other times forcing food into her mouth.
She also recalled that Hubbard-Washington would hit Matthew with a yardstick and would strike the girl on the head with a brush "and tell her to shut up" if she began crying.
Jansen said he wants to review transcripts of the hearing before he listens to closing arguments and decides whether Hubbard-Washington will face the charges in District Court.
Consul and prosecutors Vicki Monroe and Noreen Nyikos are to argue the case before the judge on Oct. 31.
Contact reporter K.C. Howard at khoward@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Teacher Jesus Garcia Gets Drunk on Field Trip and Abuses Kids
From Teacher Smack Down
Anne-Marie Nichols
May 25, 2007
On a field trip to Washington, D.C., teacher Jesus Garcia got drunk, cursed at students, spanked them, and flung one on a bed. And now parents are outraged that no charges were filed against the soccer coach and ESL instructor for Immokalee Community School. Florida’s Department of Children and Families is investigating.
After a five-day field trip to Washington, D.C., five fifth graders were in their room at the Embassy Suites when Garcia told the group he was going downstairs and would return in 10 minutes. He returned an hour later drunk off his ass and smelling like booze.
Garcia started cussing and spanked the kids. He picked one of the boys up and threw him on the bed. Then Garcia told another student to kick the boy.
The school chaperones knew something was wrong when the five children did not show up for dinner. When chaperones approached the room, Garcia wouldn’t let the kids open the door. The chaperones found the children frightened and upset. They put Garcia in a separate hotel and paid for a separate flight, which he missed.
School officials immediately contacted the children’s parents. They also fired Garcia and are providing counseling for students and parents.
What a friggin’ nightmare. You’re 12 year old and you’ve worked hard all school year to raise money for a field trip to the nation’s capitol. During the trip a teacher gets drunk, and physically and verbally assaults you and your classmates. Then he practically holds you hostage in your hotel room.
I agree with the parents that Garcia needs to be charged immediately…and get some treatment for his alcoholism.
http://www.teachersmackdown.com/teacher-jesus-garcia-gets-drunk-on-field-trip-and-abuses-kids/
Anne-Marie Nichols
May 25, 2007
On a field trip to Washington, D.C., teacher Jesus Garcia got drunk, cursed at students, spanked them, and flung one on a bed. And now parents are outraged that no charges were filed against the soccer coach and ESL instructor for Immokalee Community School. Florida’s Department of Children and Families is investigating.
After a five-day field trip to Washington, D.C., five fifth graders were in their room at the Embassy Suites when Garcia told the group he was going downstairs and would return in 10 minutes. He returned an hour later drunk off his ass and smelling like booze.
Garcia started cussing and spanked the kids. He picked one of the boys up and threw him on the bed. Then Garcia told another student to kick the boy.
The school chaperones knew something was wrong when the five children did not show up for dinner. When chaperones approached the room, Garcia wouldn’t let the kids open the door. The chaperones found the children frightened and upset. They put Garcia in a separate hotel and paid for a separate flight, which he missed.
School officials immediately contacted the children’s parents. They also fired Garcia and are providing counseling for students and parents.
What a friggin’ nightmare. You’re 12 year old and you’ve worked hard all school year to raise money for a field trip to the nation’s capitol. During the trip a teacher gets drunk, and physically and verbally assaults you and your classmates. Then he practically holds you hostage in your hotel room.
I agree with the parents that Garcia needs to be charged immediately…and get some treatment for his alcoholism.
http://www.teachersmackdown.com/teacher-jesus-garcia-gets-drunk-on-field-trip-and-abuses-kids/
Monday, April 2, 2007
Kindergartner Arrested, Put In Jail
Note: The school in this article is Avon Elementary in Avon Park, FL...
Apr 02 2007 8:09AM
A kindergartner was arrested and thrown into a Florida jail last week after she acted up at school.
Desre'e Watson, 6, was arrested on felony charges. Police said the child threw chairs and hit a teacher.
Her mother said she has never seen that kind of behavior and thinks something must have brought it on.
"Im afraid she might have trauma from this because right now she's like slacking up on eating and I've noticed like different things have changed," said Lateshia Wilson, Desrees mother.
The principal said they try to call parents first when a child is out of control, but if they cannot reach a parent, they call police.
Desre'es parents are considering a lawsuit.
The state attorney's office will decide whether to prosecute the child. She faces charges of disruption of a school function, battery on school employees and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.
http://www.wftv.com/news/11455199/detail.html
http://www.onntv.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200704/448752473.html
Apr 02 2007 8:09AM
A kindergartner was arrested and thrown into a Florida jail last week after she acted up at school.
Desre'e Watson, 6, was arrested on felony charges. Police said the child threw chairs and hit a teacher.
Her mother said she has never seen that kind of behavior and thinks something must have brought it on.
"Im afraid she might have trauma from this because right now she's like slacking up on eating and I've noticed like different things have changed," said Lateshia Wilson, Desrees mother.
The principal said they try to call parents first when a child is out of control, but if they cannot reach a parent, they call police.
Desre'es parents are considering a lawsuit.
The state attorney's office will decide whether to prosecute the child. She faces charges of disruption of a school function, battery on school employees and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.
http://www.wftv.com/news/11455199/detail.html
http://www.onntv.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200704/448752473.html
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Duct-taping Teacher Faces Charges
October 31, 2005
Santa FE, NM - An arraignment could start as early as Wednesday in a case where a Santa Fe Public Schools teaching intern, according to a student witness, ''snapped'' and duct-taped several children in her sixth-grade Chaparral Elementary classroom. She faces felony charges of child abuse and false imprisonment.
Alice Yuen's indictment last week brought up eight counts of child abuse and two counts of false imprisonment stemming from a school day that occurred in late May.
According to a witness, she taped some students' mouths closed with duct-tape in the morning and then, after lunch, proceeded to bound two of the students to chairs in order to restrain them.
Eight students are named as victims in the indictment. The students reported the incident to Chaparral Principal Theresa Ulibarri.
Ulibarri said she Yuen was removed from the classroom and was interrogated by her. As an explanation for her actions Yuen told her she had become angry because some boys in the classroom were chasing each other.
Yuen told her she took out the duct tape and threatened to use it and that the students had instigated her using it.
The following day, Ulibarri and a counselor from the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center met with the class to discuss what had happened and offer private counseling to students who wanted it.
Prosecutors are seeking to schedule an arraignment in District Court on Wednesday. The District Court Judge Stephen Pfeffer will write out the conditions of her release that will probably include no contact with children.
The indictment provides Santa Fe and Los Alamos addresses for Yuen, but no telephone number was listed for her.
Ulibarri said she had not heard any complaints about the teacher's behavior prior to this incident.
http://www.injuryhelpline.com/index.rwl?category=news§ion=product+liability&article=duct+taping+teacher+faces+charges&id=1809
Santa FE, NM - An arraignment could start as early as Wednesday in a case where a Santa Fe Public Schools teaching intern, according to a student witness, ''snapped'' and duct-taped several children in her sixth-grade Chaparral Elementary classroom. She faces felony charges of child abuse and false imprisonment.
Alice Yuen's indictment last week brought up eight counts of child abuse and two counts of false imprisonment stemming from a school day that occurred in late May.
According to a witness, she taped some students' mouths closed with duct-tape in the morning and then, after lunch, proceeded to bound two of the students to chairs in order to restrain them.
Eight students are named as victims in the indictment. The students reported the incident to Chaparral Principal Theresa Ulibarri.
Ulibarri said she Yuen was removed from the classroom and was interrogated by her. As an explanation for her actions Yuen told her she had become angry because some boys in the classroom were chasing each other.
Yuen told her she took out the duct tape and threatened to use it and that the students had instigated her using it.
The following day, Ulibarri and a counselor from the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center met with the class to discuss what had happened and offer private counseling to students who wanted it.
Prosecutors are seeking to schedule an arraignment in District Court on Wednesday. The District Court Judge Stephen Pfeffer will write out the conditions of her release that will probably include no contact with children.
The indictment provides Santa Fe and Los Alamos addresses for Yuen, but no telephone number was listed for her.
Ulibarri said she had not heard any complaints about the teacher's behavior prior to this incident.
http://www.injuryhelpline.com/index.rwl?category=news§ion=product+liability&article=duct+taping+teacher+faces+charges&id=1809
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