No criminal charges will be filed against the elementary school principal who paddled a 6-year-old student in front of her mother and classmates.
The girl’s mother secretly recorded the paddling and the footage went viral, sparking public backlash against the principal.
Investigators determined the principal didn’t commit a crime, because the child’s mother consented to corporal punishment.
According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, Central Elementary School Principal Melissa Carter and her clerk, Cecelia Self, paddled the student at the request of the girl’s mother.
The child’s mother, who is in the country illegally, is under investigation for child neglect at home.
Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Abraham R. Thornburg explains “the evidence in this case appears clear that the child’s mother sanctioned and consented to the spanking of her daughter as discipline for misbehavior.”
Thornburg also said there were “significant concerns” about the mother’s credibility regarding her statements that she was confused or didn’t understand the language.
The mother retained an attorney who told reporters the mother didn’t know what was going on due to a language barrier. But the principal and clerk are fluent in Spanish — the mother’s native language.
Thornburg said there was “no reason to believe” the principal was aware of any such confusion at the time of the paddling.
Thornburg explained:
“A parent has the right to use corporal punishment to discipline their children, and similarly has the right to consent that others do so on their behalf.”
Brent Probinsky, attorney for the family, told TMZ, “The state attorney reached the wrong conclusion here. It’s frightening the state attorney, who is in charge of prosecuting crimes in this community, is not filing charges in what clearly is child abuse.”
A 6yo child in FL. was beaten by her school principal, in front of her mother, for damage she allegedly caused to a computer. ?? this video is graphic. It’s infuriating, outrageous & shocking & the principal is now under criminal investigation. https://t.co/M3cIZeTMKa pic.twitter.com/HPAcbYXlXe
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) May 2, 2021