Colorado school bus aide shown hitting autistic boy faces more charges

DENVER (AP) — A college bus aide proven on surveillance video hitting a nonverbal autistic boy has been charged with 10 extra counts of abuse involving two kids, prosecutors stated Friday.

Kiarra Jones, 29, was arrested final month and initially charged with one felony rely of third-degree assault on an in danger particular person. Eight extra prices of third-degree assault on an at-risk particular person and two misdemeanor counts of kid abuse have been filed in opposition to her, Eric Ross, a spokesperson for 18th Judicial District Legal professional John Kellner stated. The brand new prices contain alleged abuse of the kid initially named as a sufferer and a second baby, he stated.

Jones is represented by attorneys from the general public defender’s workplace, which doesn’t remark to the media on its instances.

The names of the victims had been redacted in court docket paperwork however Qusair Mohamedbhai, a lawyer who represents the households of scholars who took the bus Jones labored on in suburban Denver, stated they’re each nonverbal autistic boys together with a 10-year-old proven being hit in a video launched by his mom final month.

On the time, Jessica Vestal stated her son got here dwelling from faculty with unexplained bruises throughout his physique in January. Later, he obtained a black eye, which Vestal stated Jones blamed on him hitting himself with a toy, and later he suffered a bruised foot. Unable to elucidate the supply of the accidents, Vestal requested the college district to evaluate the bus surveillance video.

Every of the brand new assault prices, that are felonies, represents a day by which there are a number of separate incidents of abuse in opposition to the youngsters, Mohamedbhai stated.