A Gregg County jury has unanimously found two former Longview ISD principals guilty of abusing students with disabilities at J.L. Everhart Elementary School in 2021.
Cassandra Renee James, 51, of Hallsville, and Linda Kaye Lister, 63, of Longview, were convicted after a multi-day trial in which prosecutors presented video evidence showing alleged mistreatment of students. The two women are among six individuals charged with abusing 11 students at the school between 2019 and 2021.
During the third day of the trial, prosecutors played several videos for the jury that documented incidents inside the classroom. While many of the clips focused on other staff members accused in the case, one video showed James and Lister entering a classroom after another employee removed a student’s shoe and threw it on the floor.
According to testimony, the employee appeared to notify someone by phone that the principals were on their way, saying, “2–3 minutes they coming.”
Prosecutors said the incident began when a student, who was unable to communicate verbally, became frustrated. When James and Lister entered the room, the child was reportedly curled into a ball in the corner.
Video footage shown in court captured Lister striking the wall above the student’s head with a paddle while yelling at him to get up. At one point, Lister reportedly said, “I wish I could do it like I want — I can’t do it right here.”
The student was then pulled to his feet and continued to be yelled at by several adults in the classroom.
In the footage, James also told the child that school officials would continue reporting and suspending him until he returned to his original school district.
Other videos presented during the trial showed additional alleged abuse by staff members. Prosecutors said the footage included incidents where chairs were pulled out from under students, children were dragged by their arms or legs from desk chairs, and some students were struck with objects such as yardsticks, backpacks, cardboard tubes, and water bottles.
Longview detective Debra Stiles testified that a Longview ISD attorney was already interviewing individuals when she arrived at the school to begin the police investigation.
During cross-examination, James’ defense suggested that the act of swinging a paddle near the student may have been consistent with discipline supported by some parents.
Stiles rejected that idea while testifying. “Swinging a paddle so close to his head … I don’t think any parent would want that,” she said.
The defense also introduced a video showing a mother outside a classroom window holding a belt toward her child, suggesting it was her way of encouraging better behavior.
Stiles testified that several parents told investigators their children in the Life Skills classroom were afraid of Lister due to paddling. She also stated that the investigation could have been more thorough if law enforcement had been contacted before the school district conducted its internal review.
“In a dream world, I would’ve been contacted,” Stiles said during testimony.
During closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized that both women held supervisory roles and knowingly allowed the mistreatment of vulnerable students.
“This is about giving a voice to the voiceless and protecting those that are defenseless,” Gregg County Assistant District Attorney Morgan Armstrong told jurors.
Defense attorney James Biggs argued that prosecutors failed to prove the students suffered bodily injury and reminded jurors that the burden of proof rested with the state.
“The state’s witnesses gave us the facts that we needed, so that’s why we didn’t call a lot of witnesses,” Biggs said.
After deliberations, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts for both defendants. The sentencing phase of the trial is scheduled to resume Friday.
