Teachers, Administrators Charged in Videotaped Student Beating at Houston Charter School

By: Naimah Jabali-Nash
Topics: Daily Blotter

HOUSTON, Texas (CBS/KHOU) Former Houston charter school teacher Sheri Lyn Davis was charged Monday with causing injury to a child for the April beating of a student in her classroom, while a fellow faculty member watched. Charges were also filed against two school administrators and the other teacher, in the incident that was captured on a student's cell phone video.

According to investigators, the 40-year-old Davis continuously pummeled and kicked 13-year-old Isaiah Reagins after he reportedly laughed at a mentally challenged student for dancing in the classroom. The video shows Davis beating, slapping and kicking Reagins on the classroom floor. On May 20, Reagins' mother filed a complaint with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

"I think this is validation for Isaiah and his mother and the other kids, that there's been a cover-up all along," attorney Brant Stogner told CBS affiliate KHOU.

Police have also indicted school Principal David Jones, Superintendent Ollie Hilliard and teacher Gabriel Moseley, who was present at the time of the incident, for neglecting to report abuse. Authorities fired teachers Davis and Moseley following the taped tirade.

"The message that we want to send to people, regardless of where they work or who they are, is to report any type of incident -- especially one involving a student or child being beat or kicked or struck. Failure to do so is a crime," Harris County Sheriff's spokesperson Christina Garza told KHOU.

If convicted Jones, Hilliard and Moseley could spend up to a year in jail. Davis could get 2 to 10 years in prison. All four former Jamie's House Charter School employees have posted bail and were released Tuesday morning, said KHOU.

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