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Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
THREE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES BEING CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE AND ANOTHER WITH FAILURE TO REPORT

(Warrants Issued)

A teacher and two aides at a Fort Walton Beach school for children with disabilities are being charged by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office with aggravated child abuse in connection with incidents which took place between September first and November 14th of 2018. In an unrelated case, an elementary school guidance counselor has an active OCSO warrant for failing to report child abuse.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley and newly appointed School Superintendent Marcus Chambers held a news conference at OCSO headquarters in Shalimar today to outline the findings of the law enforcement investigations.

48-year old Margaret Wolthers, a teacher at Silver Sands School, and teacher’s aides Diana LaCroix and Carolyn Madison, are accused of abusing three autistic children, (one aged ten and two eight years old). The allegations came to light after being reported by witnesses to the Silver Sands School Resource Officer. OCSO Investigators say on different occasions the teacher and aides “intentionally and maliciously” blew a whistle in the ear of a child with a low sensory auditory threshold who wore earphones to protect him from loud noises. They also threatened him with the whistle.

Investigators say all three juveniles were also placed individually, and on separate occasions, in a classroom bathroom with the door closed and lights off as punishment for misbehavior. Classroom aides who witnessed the incidents say the victims would scream and cry when placed in the bathroom, and that one was contained for up to 90 minutes.

In an unconnected incident, a guidance counselor at Shalimar Elementary School is being charged with failure to report child abuse. OCSO Investigators say Sharen Burt, a mandatory reporter, failed to notify the Florida Department of Children and Families last October 19th that a five year old student had alleged being sexually abused by another student at the school. Burt called and told an employee of the Boys and Girls Club that she thought it happened there and not at the school, but did not make a notification to the state as required by law.
 

James Bentwood

Beach Fanatic
Feb 24, 2005
1,495
606
This is not in South Walton / Walton County. It is the next county over in Fort Walton Beach. Lots of people don't know that this is almost an hour away. Not SoWal!
 

Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
This is not in South Walton / Walton County. It is the next county over in Fort Walton Beach. Lots of people don't know that this is almost an hour away. Not SoWal!

Do you think people from Walton County don't send their kids to Okaloosa Schools? I got news for ya...they do.

It's relevant to Walton County.
 

Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
People need to know this is not in South Walton!


Are you going to throw a temper tantrum till you get your way and its removed?

I must have missed the forum rules/guidelines that say, "this page is only about Sowal" or James Bentwood.
 

Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
Are these incidents the reason for the recent removal of the Okaloosa County School Superintendent by the governor?


They occurred under her watch Teresa. I think its a safe bet the answer to that is yes.

She certainly should have known. It was her job to know!
 
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Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
There are more also...

Chambers calls for firing of Kelley, Johnson

The board voted unanimously to terminate them.


51505636_2251282564915132_2927162474425745408_n.jpg
 

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic
Jul 28, 2007
2,476
733
SOWAL,FL
Yes because this could never happen in Walton county.:rolleyes:
[insert sarcasm] noooo, and we would never have a sexual predator as a girls coach at the high school....
 
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