A Florida teacher, Tonya Gainey, 57, has been arrested and charged with child abuse after allegedly throwing away a nonverbal 3-year-old student’s lunch, causing him distress, and engaging in a physical altercation.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 10th at the WISE Center, in DeFuniak Springs, where Gainey worked within the Exceptional Student Education program for students with disabilities.
“Our agency worked diligently to assess the full scope of the situation,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Her behavior is unacceptable, and the charges reflect that.”
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According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance footage captured Gainey “slamming down the arm” of the young student during lunchtime.
The video then allegedly shows Gainey discarding the child’s food and subsequently ignoring him for the remainder of the lunch period. Authorities stated that the child was visibly crying and appeared to be in pain.
On December 11th, school administrators were made aware of the incident and promptly notified the Department of Children and Families. Gainey was informed of an impending investigation and reassigned to prevent further contact with the affected student and others.
Gainey reportedly reacted negatively to the reassignment, refusing to leave the school campus. A School Resource Deputy was called to escort her off the property, resulting in her being officially trespassed. Gainey then submitted her immediate resignation via email.
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Following these events, a criminal investigation was launched in cooperation with the school. Parents of Gainey’s former students were notified by phone, and the child involved in the alleged abuse underwent a medical evaluation. The child’s condition has not been publicly released.
On December 13th, an arrest warrant was issued for Gainey. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of trespassing and one felony count of child abuse. Gainey was released on a $5,000 bond and is awaiting trial. It is currently unknown whether she has obtained legal representation.
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