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Teaching assistant in Va. accused of sticking boy

By WTOP Staff

YORK TOWN, Va. (AP) — A teaching assistant at an autism center in Yorktown faces charges of sticking a boy with push pin.

The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office tells media outlets that 45-year-old Diane Smith of Hampton is charged with assault and battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police also charged a teacher, 35-year-old Darcie Badami, with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The charges stem from an incident on Friday at New Horizons Center for Autism.

Police say another staff member told administrators at the center that she saw a teaching assistant stick a push pin several times into 13-year-old special needs student’s arm. She also reported hearing the teaching assistant and another teacher conspiring to cover up the incident.

Executive director Joseph Johnson says the center is cooperating with authorities.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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