A Florida principal who was recorded paddling a six-year-old girl on the buttocks did not commit a crime, according to a review by the state attorney's office.
A reported by CNN, Principal Melissa Carter of Central Elementary School in Clewiston, Florida, was secretly recorded by the girl's mother as she spanked the child with a paddle.
The child's mother had been called into the school on April 13 after the child allegedly damaged some computer equipment. Brent Probinsky, the attorney representing the family, states that the mom was told to bring $50 to cover the damages, and was then told that children were sometimes paddled at the school.
Cellphone footage shows one adult staff member holding the child in place, as another strikes her across the buttocks with a paddle. After the child starts to cry and move away, she is made to get back in position and was hit two more times with the paddle.
VT will not be sharing the disturbing footage, and will not be naming the mother or child.
Now, CNN states that after the Florida State Attorney conducted a review into the incident, it was determined that Principal Melissa Carter had not committed a crime.
In a memo to Clewiston Police Department dated May 7, Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Abraham R. Thornburg said that a member of the school's staff by the name of Celia Self had called the student's mom to inform her of her child's behavior, and that she would be charged for the "intentionally damaged" computer equipment.
A statement from Self claims that the mother had requested for her daughter to be paddled, after the child had allegedly been damaging things at their home.
Self adds that the mother was "afraid to discipline her by spanking, because her daughter threatens to call the police and DCF". Both Self and Cater state that the mother requested that the school did so instead.
Thornbury's statement says that Carter treated the mother with respect throughout the video, and clearly explained how her child would be disciplined.
"Ms. Self and Ms. Carter then appear to make efforts to position the child so that she can be safely spanked without injury," Thornbury writes. "Ms. Carter then strikes the child with a wooden paddle three times in succession on the buttocks.
"After the spanking, both staff members ask the child to apologize to her mother, and again explain the reason for the spanking and that it may occur again if she continues misbehaving.
"Both staff members appear to treat the child and her mother with respect throughout this process."
Thornbury adds: "Here, there is no evidence or indication of great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement."
"Similarly, the law in Florida is clear that spanking a child does not amount to child abuse," Thornbury added.
On Saturday, attorney Probinsky said in a statement that the Florida State Attorney Amira Fox's decision not to file criminal charges against the two staff members is "relied on a flawed legal analysis."
The mother of the child has since claimed that she recorded the spanking and "sacrificed" her daughter as a way of proving what was going on at the school. She also says that she was "confused" about what was going on due to the "language barrier".
Additionally, the two staff members could still possibly face disciplinary action from the Hendry County District Schools, as Criminal Defense Attorney Robert Foley states that the punishment shown in the video is not permitted in the district.
Corporal punishment is still legal in other Florida counties.
