Three St. Tammany paraprofessionals accused in an alleged abuse case against a disabled student will enter a diversion program, avoiding trial.
Paraprofessionals Tiffany Bourgeois, Angela Rayer, and Leslie Cookmeyer faced charges of simple battery on the infirm after St. Tammany father Justin Ferris said they hurt his son, Zander, who is blind and has autism.
All three were accused in a lawsuit filed by the Ferris family after they obtained video of the alleged abuse.
The family alleges the video shows Zander being forced into a chair at the cafeteria, then his head being pushed down onto the table.
According to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, the original case was reported to a school resource officer and didn’t get to District Attorney Colin Sims’ office in the required two-year timeframe.
Sims’ office said in an issued statement that the diversion program was the best way to hold the paraprofessionals accountable without risking losing the case.
All three will be required to complete the 12-month program that includes random drug screens, anger management classes, and community service.
St. Tammany father speaks on alleged abuse case
Justin Ferris said his son was hurt by adults who were trusted to take care of him at a Northshore school.
The family is sharing their experience, calling it a larger issue within the system.
“The one person who relies on me, I couldn’t be there for him, and I trusted people and they didn’t do it,” said Ferris through tears.
Ferris is the father of Zander Ferris, 13, who is blind and has autism.
In a lawsuit the family filed against the St. Tammany Parish School Board, Justin Ferris claims Zander was abused by three paraprofessionals at Gayle Sloan Middle School in Mandeville.
The family says the video shows what happened Jan. 30, 2023, when Zander was 11 years old.
The video is part of the public court record in their lawsuit.
The family alleges the video shows Zander being forced into a chair at the cafeteria, then his head being pushed down onto the table.
“Again, my son is blind and autistic and epileptic. He shouldn’t be left by himself; he doesn’t know what’s going on and doesn’t know his environment,” said Justin Ferris.
In the video, they say Zander can be seen being pushed out of the classroom and into the hallway, where he stands all alone for a long time.
The civil lawsuit details the video footage.
It alleges that when Zander accidentally bumped into a paraprofessional with his walking cane, she took it from him and hit him in the leg with it.
They also allege the video shows him being pushed further down against his will, during a tussle through a long stretch of hallway.
“She’s doing something to his hand. She’s doing something that’s hurting him,” Ferris said regarding the video. “He’s pulling back and being dragged 20 to 30 feet at this point. When she goes forward, she takes the walkie-talkie and hits him on the right side of the face with it.”
Paraprofessionals Tiffany Bourgeois, Angela Rayer, and Leslie Cookmeyer have all been charged with simple battery on the infirm. They all entered not guilty pleas.
Their lawyers declined to comment for this story.
In April, during their arraignment, Roy Burns, who represents Bourgeois and Cookmeyer, maintained their innocence.
“These people are with these children who are aggressive at times, who are big and who do not know what they’re doing,” Burns said during the hearing. “They have to put their hands on them; that’s the nature of what they do.”
The St. Tammany Parish School District declined to comment on this story, saying they can’t talk about pending litigation.
The family’s attorney, Chris Edmunds, says that in 2023, he previously filed another lawsuit against St. Tammany Schools, alleging abuse or mistreatment of students with special needs.
“You cannot physically abuse or assault these children,” said Edmunds.
In that lawsuit, he represented another couple in a lawsuit against the St. Tammany Parish School Board claiming “systemic discrimination and abuse against young children with autism, including physical abuse, verbal abuse, and unlawful segregation.”
The parties settled the action for an undisclosed amount.
Edmunds feels this is a bigger problem across the board.
“It’s a bigger issue and unfortunately not limited to St. Tammany. It’s an issue statewide,” Edmunds said.
A recent report by the state’s legislative auditor found the Louisiana Department of Education is not monitoring special education programs closely enough, stating there are not enough “desk or on-site reviews.”
“One of the biggest problems is that schools do not communicate with parents,” Edmunds said. “In many cases, it’s the cover-up that’s worse than the crime.”
Zander is making good progress and is showing signs of comfort in the arms of loved ones. The family says they are still fighting for justice while patching up emotional scars.
A former police officer, Justin Ferris, said he still can’t get over the factthat he couldn’t protect his own son.
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