Three St. Tammany paraprofessionals accused in an alleged abuse case in opposition to a disabled scholar will enter a diversion program, avoiding trial. Paraprofessionals Tiffany Bourgeois, Angela Rayer, and Leslie Cookmeyer confronted fees of easy battery on the infirm after St. Tammany father Justin Ferris stated they damage his son, Zander, who’s blind and has autism. All three have been accused in a lawsuit filed by the Ferris household after they obtained video of the alleged abuse. The household alleges the video reveals Zander being pressured right into a chair on the cafeteria, then his head being pushed down onto the desk.In line with the St. Tammany Parish District Legal professional’s Workplace, the unique case was reported to a college useful resource officer and did not get to District Legal professional Colin Sims’ workplace within the required two-year timeframe. Sims’ workplace stated in an issued assertion that the diversion program was one of the best ways to carry the paraprofessionals accountable with out risking dropping the case. All three will likely be required to finish the 12-month program that features random drug screens, anger administration courses, and neighborhood service. St. Tammany father speaks on alleged abuse case Justin Ferris stated his son was damage by adults who have been trusted to deal with him at a Northshore faculty. The household is sharing their expertise, calling it a bigger challenge inside the system. “The one one who depends on me, I could not be there for him, and I trusted folks they usually did not do it,” stated Ferris by way of tears. Ferris is the daddy of Zander Ferris, 13, who’s blind and has autism. In a lawsuit the household filed in opposition to the St. Tammany Parish College Board, Justin Ferris claims Zander was abused by three paraprofessionals at Gayle Sloan Center College in Mandeville. The household says the video reveals what occurred Jan. 30, 2023, when Zander was 11 years previous. The video is a part of the general public court docket report of their lawsuit. The household alleges the video reveals Zander being pressured right into a chair on the cafeteria, then his head being pushed down onto the desk. “Once more, my son is blind and autistic and epileptic. He should not be left by himself; he does not know what is going on on and does not know his atmosphere,” stated Justin Ferris. Within the video, they are saying Zander might be seen being pushed out of the classroom and into the hallway, the place he stands on their lonesome for a very long time. The civil lawsuit particulars the video footage. It alleges that when Zander by chance bumped right into a paraprofessional along with his strolling cane, she took it from him and hit him within the leg with it. In addition they allege the video reveals him being pushed additional down in opposition to his will, throughout a tussle by way of a protracted stretch of hallway. “She’s doing one thing to his hand. She’s doing one thing that is hurting him,” Ferris stated concerning the video. “He is pulling again and being dragged 20 to 30 ft at this level. When she goes ahead, she takes the walkie-talkie and hits him on the best facet of the face with it.” Paraprofessionals Tiffany Bourgeois, Angela Rayer, and Leslie Cookmeyer have all been charged with easy battery on the infirm. All of them entered not responsible pleas. Their legal professionals declined to remark for this story. In April, throughout their arraignment, Roy Burns, who represents Bourgeois and Cookmeyer, maintained their innocence. “These persons are with these kids who’re aggressive at instances, who’re massive and who have no idea what they’re doing,” Burns stated throughout the listening to. “They must put their palms on them; that is the character of what they do.”The St. Tammany Parish College District declined to touch upon this story, saying they cannot discuss pending litigation. The household’s lawyer, Chris Edmunds, says that in 2023, he beforehand filed one other lawsuit in opposition to St. Tammany Faculties, alleging abuse or mistreatment of scholars with particular wants. “You can’t bodily abuse or assault these kids,” stated Edmunds. In that lawsuit, he represented one other couple in a lawsuit in opposition to the St. Tammany Parish College Board claiming “systemic discrimination and abuse in opposition to younger kids with autism, together with bodily abuse, verbal abuse, and illegal segregation.” The events settled the motion for an undisclosed quantity. Edmunds feels it is a larger downside throughout the board. “It is a larger challenge and sadly not restricted to St. Tammany. It is a difficulty statewide,” Edmunds stated. A current report by the state’s legislative auditor discovered the Louisiana Division of Schooling is just not monitoring particular education schemes carefully sufficient, stating there are usually not sufficient “desk or on-site evaluations.” “One of many greatest issues is that colleges don’t talk with mother and father,” Edmunds stated. “In lots of instances, it is the cover-up that is worse than the crime.” Zander is making good progress and is displaying indicators of consolation within the arms of family members. The household says they’re nonetheless preventing for justice whereas patching up emotional scars. A former police officer, Justin Ferris, stated he nonetheless cannot recover from the factthat he could not shield his personal son.