A preschool teacher at Holz Elementary School in Charleston, West Virginia, is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting a 3-year-old nonverbal special needs student, according to court records.
Patricia Lynn Summerfield, 55, has been charged with felony battery and assault of a disabled child following an incident that occurred on Tuesday. A criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court states that Summerfield allegedly dragged the child across the room, leaving scratches and red marks.
Several witnesses reportedly saw the incident, and school administrators were notified. Summerfield was suspended with pay following county protocol and later released on a $75,000 cash-only bond.
This incident follows a previous case at Holz Elementary involving former special needs teacher Nancy Boggs, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of battery against students and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. That case contributed to the passage of a West Virginia law making abuse against disabled children a felony.
A preliminary hearing for Summerfield is set for April 10.
