CALDWELL, Idaho — A former speech therapist at a Caldwell elementary school has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor injury to a child.
The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that Lisa Carriere said in court Friday that she slapped a 6-year-old autistic student after the child raised his hand at her during a lesson.
Carriere told the judge that she hit the boy during speech therapy class. She could tell the boy was tired, but she continued with the lesson. She says the child acted aggressively and she feared for her life, Carriere said.
Carriere resigned from the school soon after the incident occurred in January.
"I overreacted, your honor," she said. "It is the worst mistake of my life."
Judge Thomas Sullivan sentenced Carriere to 180 days in jail with 175 days suspended. He also ordered her to serve 50 hours of community service, and $500 in fines and court costs. She was also ordered to serve two years of unsupervised probation.
People are also reading…
"There's something about that mark on the boy's face that seems to be more than impulsively acting out in fear," Sullivan said after seeing a photo of the boy's face shortly after it was slapped. "There's a little anger in that mark."
However, the judge added that he had received 21 letters in support of Carriere's professionalism and character. Sullivan gave Carriere a withheld judgment, meaning her case will be dismissed once the probation period is finished.
The boy's parents, Joyce Rodriguez and Victor Rodriguez, gave a statement to the judge.
"Tears still fall and they will always fall thinking of the hand print left on his face," Joyce Rodriguez said, crying as she spoke to Sullivan.
Her son was found pressing his face against the school bathroom floor to ease the sting of the slap, Rodriguez said.
