Central LA Pre-K Teacher Charged with "Battery" of a Three-year Old

The Alexandria (LA) Daily Town Talk | 10-19-02 | Staff Reports

[Theodore R.]

A Pineville Elementary School teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly committing a battery on a 3-year-old pupil.

Amy Sevario, 31, of 1008 Candy Lane, Alexandria, was arrested on a charge of simple battery.

Tommy Roque, Rapides Parish assistant superintendent for administration, acknowledged he was aware of the arrest and said the incident is under investigation.

In situations similar to this, the teacher typically is placed on leave. However, he declined comment specifically on this incident or teacher.

Sevario is listed in the school system's employee directory as a special education prekindergarten teacher.

Pineville police detectives would not go into the specifics of what happened between the teacher and pupil since the case has not gone to court.

Officers were notified Sept. 25 by the elementary school principal of a possible battery on a pupil. The school filed the complaint, and detectives began an investigation.

It was not until Thursday that there was enough evidence in the case to make an arrest.

A warrant was issued, and Sevario was picked up Thursday. She was released the same day on her own recognizance from the Pineville Jail.

Elementary school officials directed questions to school system administration.

A call to Sevario's home Friday afternoon for comment was not returned.

[Theodore R.]

We don't have the teacher's side. Could it be that she "merely" tried to bring order to this Pre-K class? Rapides Parish, LA, has long been known for its unruly pupils in public schools. Just last month as controversy developed over "afternoon suspension" for the unruly ones. Or could this teacher have physically harmed the three-year-old? Perhaps this teacher is herself the one being abused by the system? Or perhaps this individual is psychologically unsuited for teaching? We really don't know much from these reports.

[Cicero]

As you say. We have a society that sympathizes with murderers, but wants to lock up people who spank a child and throw away the key.

Abortion is wonderful, but smoking is a grave crime.

We could use a return to common sense.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Or could this teacher have physically harmed the three-year-old? Perhaps this teacher is herself the one being abused by the system? Or perhaps this individual is psychologically unsuited for teaching? We really don't know much from these reports.

In the past I would have assumed this teacher was getting what she deserved. But now, things being as they are, for all we know she may have just taken the child by the wrist to get his/her attention.

[thumper7827]

I am very close to the situation....did you know that simply by touching someone else when they do not want to be is considered simple battery and you can be arrested for it. Did you also know that if you are arrested because of this type of allegation you are forced to prove your innocence. Trust me this situation did not warrant the kind of attention that it was given. If the whole story could be told truthfully there would be more scandal uncovered than with the Clintons.


Thumper