By Fallan Patterson

Staff Writer

The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office is weighing whether to charge a Narcoossee Elementary School teacher with child abuse after an autistic student's parents complained the teacher physically and verbally abused their son.

The incident occurred before the end of the school year and involved a 5-year-old boy, according to published reports.

The Exceptional Student Education teacher, who is not being named as she has not been charged with a crime, has worked for the Osceola County School District since June 1996, spokeswoman Dana Schafer said.

“The teacher will be reassigned away from students until the outcome of the investigation is resolved,” she added.

State Attorney's Office spokesman Det. Bernie Presha confirmed the case had been sent to his office from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for review but could not provide a timeline for when charges could be filed.

“They have a timely process that they must go through with each file,” Presha said, adding the office receives hundreds of cases a day to be screened for probable cause.

Schafer said the district is conducting an internal investigation into the allegations but the criminal investigation “trumps” any conducted by the district.

ESE teachers are specially trained in college and receive ongoing training, certification and professional development through the district, Schafer said.

Part of that training includes specific restraint techniques if a child becomes a danger to themselves or others, however, Schafer said she didn't think this incident involved those techniques.