Ask Joe: Washoe DA declines to file charges after report of abuse at Inskeep Elementary
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — This is a follow up to a story we brought you recently about a report of a special education student being abused by a teacher's aide at Michael Inskeep Elementary School in Cold Springs.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Ask Joe Investigates: WCSD withholds video after reports of assault at school
It was another staff member who reported the incident to school officials. We interviewed the mother of the little boy who told us her child did suffer an injury to arm and was traumatized by the incident.
The mother also said she was frustrated that the Washoe County School District refused to let her see the surveillance video showing what happened.
We checked with the Washoe County District Attorney's Office. Their spokesperson, Michelle Bays says they decided not to file charges because there is no evidence of intent to commit a crime.
Bays also points out there is an important exception in Nevada state law. While corporal punishment is now allowed under the law, the exception exists for a teacher or a staff member who is trying to get an unruly student to follow along or get in line.
The D.A.'s Office did review the surveillance video with the little boy's family, however that video is still not available to the public and at this point we're not sure if it ever will be.
