Two Texas elementary school teachers have been arrested and charged after they allegedly verbally and physically abused a non-verbal autistic 10-year-old student, Alex. Jennifer Dale and Paxton Bean were arrested after a video showed both women hitting the boy in the classroom.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to CBS News, the video that triggered the investigation dates back to February. It took place at Millsap Elementary School. The video showed Jennifer Dale, a special education teacher, apparently slapping Alex. Alex would then walk toward Paxton Bean, a paraprofessional, who yelled at him. Bean then hits him with an object and throws it at him.
According to Alex's mother, Carossa Cornelius, she was previously informed that the teachers were verbally abusive. This, reportedly, prompted an adult present in the classroom to start recording the incident. Cornelius only found out about the details of what happened to her son on March 10. The incident was recorded on February 18.
Following the clip going viral and the ensuing backlash and wave of accusations, the Millsap Independent School District issued a statement. "The educators involved were immediately placed on administrative leave, they never returned to the classroom, and they are no longer employed by the District," the statement said. Moreover, a third-party investigator prompted the Millsapd ISD to put the school's principal and assistant principal to be put on administrative. leave.
Arrested And Charged
Now, a total of three individuals have been arrested and charged, as per CBS News. Other than Jennifer Dale and Paxton Bean, Superintendent Marie "Edie" Martin was also arrested. Martin was charged with failure to report the abuse allegations in connection with the case. Dale turned herself in and was charged with official oppression. Bean was charged with official oppression and injury to a child/elderly/disabled with intentional bodily injury.
An attorney who specializes in criminal neglect with disabled children, Wesley Gould, told the outlet that the Superintendent had only 48 hours to report the abuse.
"So this should have been reported immediately," Gould said. "The family should have been notified, and there seems to have been a wholesale miscarriage of justice, and I just feel so terrible for this family and this poor little boy."
Texas Representative Mike Olcott expressed feeling "disturbed" by the details of the case and alleged abuse. "I am especially disturbed that these individuals who were hired specifically to care for students in the special education program would subject such vulnerable children to this type of abuse," Olcott said.
Heartbreakingly, Carossa Cornelius revealed that her son, Alex, no longer wants to go to school.
"He wanted to go. He loved it, absolutely loved it, and they took that from him. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to send him back because he's terrified," Cornelius said. "I just hope that these teachers, or so-called educators, can never do this to another single child ever again." She added that she would like to see cameras set up in classrooms with special needs throughout the state.
