WELCH, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two McDowell County Public School educators have been indicted on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including child abuse and assault, following allegations of mistreating special needs students.
According to McDowell County Sheriff James Muncy, teacher Anita Kay Hicks, 63, of Cedar Bluff, VA, and teacher’s aide Vonda Gay Lester, 68, of Jolo, WV, were indicted by a McDowell County grand jury on October 22.
The charges stem from alleged incidents in August and September 2024 at a McDowell County elementary school.
Hicks and Lester each face the following charges:
- One count of child abuse creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury
- Two counts of gross child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury
- One count of battery of a disabled child
- Three counts of assault of a disabled child
- Four counts of maltreatment of a disabled child
- Four counts of failure to report
The indictment details several allegations, including throwing a child onto a beanbag chair, threatening a disabled child with violent injury, engaging in verbally or physically intimidating conduct, and denying students bathroom access throughout the day.
Both Hicks and Lester are awaiting further legal proceedings.
