Sherri Robinson: Teacher arrested for pulling hair and ears of special needs child to 'gain compliance'
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA: Florida authorities have arrested a 55-year-old teacher on child abuse charges after she was accused of pulling the hair and ears of a special needs child. Wildwood Elementary School teacher Sherri Evans Robinson was booked into the Sumter County Detention Center on Thursday, May 11, and charged with cruelty toward child - abuse without great bodily harm.
“Robinson would pull the hair and ears of a special needs child to gain compliance, knowing it caused the child pain and discomfort,” police said, according to Law&Crime. Officials said that Robinson was arrested after the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office was informed of physical abuse allegations against a teacher at Wildwood Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9.
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Sumter County School Board's statement
“Student safety is of utmost importance, and both the school and school district cooperated fully with law enforcement. While everyone has the presumption of innocence, Mrs Robinson will not have any contact with students pending the outcome of adjudication," said Sumter County School Board Assistant Superintendent Deborah Moffitt in a statement on Friday about Robinson’s arrest to CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG.
Robinson 'engaged in physical force'
After interviewing the witnesses, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the investigators concluded the defendant “engaged in physical force to gain compliance from a special needs child in her class when the victim acted out.” “The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s priority is protecting the victim and their identity, therefore, no further information is being released,” officials said.
Robinson was released from jail on Tuesday night after posting a $2,000 bond. It is unknown if she has a lawyer.
7-year-old student forced to eat his own vomit
MEAWW previously reported that investigators allege staff members at an elementary school in Brownsburg, Indiana instructed a 7-year-old student to eat his own vomit and failed to report the incident. The staff members are now facing criminal charges over the disturbing incident. The student involved is part of the school’s life skills program and has a cognitive disability that affects his memory.
Five employees were charged by the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office in relation to the event involving the mistreatment of the special education student during lunch. Brownsburg Community School Police became aware of the incident on Monday, April 12 even though it happened around lunchtime in February. The Brownsburg Police Department claimed that a 7-year-old student was warned by staff member Sara Seymour that if he puked, he would have to eat everything he threw up.
Meanwhile, anyone with information about Robinson's case is urged to contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. To remain anonymous, contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).