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Maltreatment of a disabled child charge
Melissa Kent, 61, of Bruceton Mills, was charged April 26 with maltreatment of a disabled child at Bruceton Elementary School in Bruceton Mills, Preston County.
On April 2, the Preston County Prosecutor’s Office received a report regarding an autistic 9-year-old identified as "C.D." The child was reported to have a "meltdown" at school and was taken to a "calm down room," a small office where the child was left unsupervised, with aides sitting outside the room one at a time.
The child’s mother reported sores on their knuckles from an alleged incident that happened March 25.
Additionally, the criminal complaint, signed Aug. 3, detailed that the state police trooper was shown video footage of Kent allegedly dragging the victim by their wrists and arms down a hallway on multiple occasions to the empty room, in which the child obtained finger injuries.
Kent is the second Bruceton school employee to be charged with maltreatment of a disabled child in this incident. Lean Nolan, 40, of Bruceton Mills, and Kent are scheduled to appear for their preliminary hearings Sept. 30. Charges against a third school employee are expected.