A bus aide in suburban Denver has been charged with assault on at-risk individuals after a mother discovered her autistic son had been subjected to physical abuse. Jessica Vestal’s 10-year-old nonverbal son came home from school with multiple bruises, prompting her to investigate further. It was only after reviewing the bus surveillance video, which she made public on Tuesday, that Vestal learned the extent of the abuse her son had endured.
The accused bus aide, Kiarra Jones, 28, has been charged with one count of third-degree assault on an at-risk person, according to court records. Jones was terminated from her position at Littleton Public Schools following her arrest. However, she has not provided any comment regarding the allegations against her. Jones is currently being represented by lawyers from the public defender’s office, which has declined to comment on the case.
Littleton Public Schools superintendent Todd Lambert addressed the incident in a letter to parents on April 5, assuring them that such behavior is not tolerated within the district. Lambert emphasized the importance of parents’ trust in the school’s ability to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.
Vestal, along with other parents and their lawyers, have accused the school district of failing to investigate the unexplained injuries suffered by their children. They are now considering legal action against the district. Brittany Yarborough, another parent, believes that Jones may also be responsible for injuries her 11-year-old nonverbal son sustained on the same bus.
Englewood police in Colorado have confirmed that multiple autistic students were abused and are currently reviewing a substantial amount of video evidence to identify all the victims involved.
Vestal, determined to shed light on the issue, released a portion of the surveillance footage, which shows her son being elbowed, punched, and hit. She hopes that by sharing this evidence, other instances of abuse against vulnerable children can be prevented.
“You can’t see how awful it is without looking at it,” Vestal stated. “And if he had to live through it, I think the least everybody else could do is pay attention to it so that it doesn’t happen again.”
