Florida principal Melissa Carter who paddled girl, 6, not charged as student's mom asked school to 'spank' kid
CLEWISTON, FLORIDA: The elementary school principal who was caught in a video spanking her 6-year-old student with a wooden paddle won't be facing any charges. Although there's been severe social media flak against the principal for using corporal punishment on her ward, investigators looking into the case concluded that no crime was committed. The reason? The child's mother allegedly consented to the corporal punishment.
Principal Melissa Carter, 37, is also no longer listed on the Hendry Schools website, so it is unclear if she has been removed from the role. The school district has refused to comment on the matter despite attempts from multiple press outlets. Amid the intense backlash on social media with people calling her out on alleged child abuse, the child's mother is also hopeful of seeing Carter put to justice.
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Why won't Melissa Carter be charged?
According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, state prosecutors found that Carter carried out the punishment at the request of the child's mother. Both Carter and her clerk Cecilia Self carried out the discipline after the mother, who had filmed the video and initially raised concern, reportedly gave her consent.
Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Abraham R Thornburg explains, "The evidence in this case appears clear that the child's mother sanctioned and consented to the spanking of her daughter as discipline for misbehavior." According to Thornburg, there were "significant concerns" about the mother's credibility surrounding her statements that she was confused or wasn't able to understand the process. He also added that even if the mother was confused, there was "no reason to believe" the principal was aware of any such confusion at the time of the paddling. "A parent has the right to use corporal punishment to discipline their children, and similarly has the right to consent that others do so on their behalf," he added.
Girl's family fighting to get principal's license revoked
The family's attorney Brent Probinsky told TMZ of the decision: "The state attorney reached the wrong conclusion here. It's frightening the state attorney, who is in charge of prosecuting crimes in this community, is not filing charges in what clearly is child abuse." The girl's family meanwhile is hoping for justice and wish to see the principal's license revoked. The child's mother is allegedly devasted that Carter won't be facing criminal charges for using corporal punishment, Probinsky told the outlet.
Corporal punishment is legal in Florida but banned in Hendry County School District. The mother wants the department of education to look at the situation properly and do what's right and revoke the principal's license. The family has an ally within the Department of Children and Family Services because they recommended Carter get banned from teaching or even being around children. The six-year-old and her two other siblings were also interviewed without the mother's knowledge about alleged neglect at home. Since the Department of Education has concluded their investigation, the family can now decide if they want to file a civil lawsuit against Carter, the clerk and the school.