Sarasota, Florida (WTSP-TV) - Diana O'Neill has taught profoundly handicapped students for 18 years, but now she's in jumpsuit orange, facing charges of aggravated child abuse involving four of her five students at Venice Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida.
"There's allegations that sound sadistic and malicious," said attorney Catherine Sloan.
But at her first court appearance, O'Neill's attorney says the charges are false.
"What's been reported were observations by aides who are not trained in specially handicapped children. She adamantly denies these charges," said Sloan.
"She would twist his arm behind his back and twist his fingers. There was another incident where she pushed a girl to the floor, a girl who just learned how to walk," said Capt. Tom McNulty with the Venice Police Department.
McNulty says two of O'Neill's teacher's aides kept logs of numerous incidents in her classroom at Venice Elementary School in December and January.
?Some of the children had trouble swallowing, so they would need their mouths wiped with a towel. Well, she would do it very forcefully and one time she pulled a towel out of a child's mouth and actually dislodged and pulled his tooth out,? said McNulty.
McNulty says the last straw came when aides allegedly saw O'Neil abuse a child with a soft skull.
?It?s alleged that the aides witnessed the teacher backhand her in the head and they said, 'That's enough,'" said McNulty.?
After hearing about the allegation from the aides, the principal contacted the Department of Children and Families. DCF determined charges are warranted.
Parents picking up their children after school couldn't believe the allegations against a teacher here.
"I've had nothing but great experience with all the teachers here. I'm really shocked, holy cow," said parent Judy Painchaud.
O'Neill is on paid administrative leave while she faces the criminal charges against her.
A school board spokesman says O'Neill has had a good record as a teacher during 18 years at Venice Elementary School.
2/22/2008 7:30:25 PM
