Case of bus aide accused of slapping boy with autism to go to trial
A judge denied a request for a description of injuries sustained by the alleged victim of James Lambert, a former Pasco County (Fla.) School District bus aide charged with two counts of felony child abuse for slapping a boy with autism. The judge told Lambert’s attorney the question of whether the slaps amount to felony child abuse should be decided by the jury.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A judge ruled James Lambert, a former Pasco County School District bus aide charged with two counts of felony child abuse for slapping a 10-year-old boy with autism, is not entitled to a description of injuries sustained by his alleged victim before the case goes to trial, The Tampa Tribune reports.
Lambert’s attorney said his client was entitled to the information before the trial and filed a motion to require the state attorney’s office to explain the nature of the injury, according to the newspaper. Circuit Judge Mary Handsel said the video of the June 3 incident was more than sufficient for the case to proceed.
The video shows Lambert walking to the back of the bus and sitting across from the boy, who was restrained in a harness, and slapping him across the face, causing him to yell and moan. The boy then slapped Lambert on the arm, and Lambert slapped the boy on the arm, the video shows. About 15 minutes later in the video, according to the newspaper, Lambert again walks to the back of the bus after he hears loud swearing, sits next to the boy, then begins to walk away before turning around and slapping the boy.
Lambert, who had worked for the school district since 1998, resigned after he was confronted with the video. Handsel told Lambert’s attorney the question of whether the slaps amount to felony child abuse should be decided by the jury.
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