West Virginia teacher charged with battery of boy with Down syndrome

From WTRF-TV:

MOUNDSVILLE, W. Va. -- Pamela Williams was arraigned Jan. 14 at the Marshall County Magistrate.

Williams pleaded not guilty to two counts of battery.

According to a criminal complaint, the student allegedly involved in the incident is an 11 year old boy with Down syndrome, autism, OCD, and ADHD.

The complaint alleges the incident happened back in October of 2009 inside a classroom at Sherrard Middle School.

The complaint states the boy did not want to sit down and started to take his clothes off. The complaint also states that Mrs. Williams tried to restrain him.

"Some of the allegations are that she put his hand in his own mouth to keep him from trying to bite anyone," said Joe Canestraro with the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office. "There are also allegations that she smacked him in the bottom, and then pushed his head into the wall."

"On Tuesday, Pamela Williams requested a medical leave of absence. The Board of Eductation granted it to her," said Marshall County Schools superintendent Fred Renzella. "It is now in the hands of the court."

Pamela Williams has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Feb. 21.