Colorado paraprofessional arrested after surveillance footage shows brutal assault of disabled child on school bus

A Colorado woman was arrested after being caught on security camera footage allegedly abusing a disabled child on a school bus. The victim had severe autism and was non-verbal.

Kiarra Jones, who worked as a paraprofessional for the Littleton School District at the time and was assigned to the special needs bus, was promptly fired when the allegations emerged. The 28-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of crimes against an at-risk juvenile causing injury, and third-degree assault of an at-risk juvenile.

According to the Denver Gazette, Jones allegedly abused the 10-year-old, whose name has not been released, who was riding the bus home from the Joshua School on three separate occasions: February 13, March 1, and March 18.

The Englewood Police Department provided a detailed breakdown of the first incident, in which Jones allegedly abused the boy for about 45 minutes.

She is said to have "hit [him] in the mouth with the closed fist of her right hand," with Officer Brian Martinez noting that, "the punch is so hard, [his] head goes back and hits the seat." 

Jones was also recorded elbowing the child, and forcefully pushing and pulling him, at one point using both hands to hold his head down for around 17 seconds.

Martinez made it clear that the boy did not "perform any actions to warrant the assault," and appeared to be crying and breathing heavily while he endured it all.

Jones' actions in footage of the March 18 incident were similar, with the boy being subject to unwarranted physical abuse.

His mother, identified only as Jessica, called the district's transportation director, Marcy Phelps, on March 19 after noticing her son had come home with injuries the day before yet again.

When Phelps reviewed the footage, she called the police, and an investigation was launched.

Jones was arrested on April 4, though she has since been freed on $5,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on May 3 for a preliminary hearing.

While Jessica's son is the only victim named so far, two other families who believe their disabled children were also abused by Jones have joined her in hiring a law firm to represent them as they dig into the evidence.