Oct 28, 2009 6:15 am US/Pacific

School Employee Accused Of Duct Taping Child

Palmer Elementary Officials Say Jennifer Carter Will Be Fired; Carter Also Arrested

DENVER (CBS)

Jennifer Carter is accused of duct taping a student's mouth shut and bound his wrists.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=63514@kcnc.dayport.com

Jennifer Carter is accused of duct taping a student's mouth shut and bound his wrists.

Denver Police Department

 

 

Denver school administrators say the district plans to fire a staffer accused of duct taping a student's mouth and wrists.

Jennifer Carter, 45, was arrested on Monday on charges of misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment.

Palmer Elementary first grader, Joshua Tenner, was allegedly duct taped by Carter on Wednesday after being sent to the principal's office, reports.

Joshua, 6, told CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver that he was sent to the principal's office on Wednesday when a substitute teacher said he was disrupting his first grade class.

"The secretary taped my mouth shut and taped my wrists together," he said, referring to the principal's secretary.

The principal, Elizabeth Trujillo, sent a letter home with all students on Thursday. It stated the Denver Public Schools and Denver police would "... investigate any allegation of misconduct," and that "... be assured the safety of students is a top priority."

Ashlye Tenner, Joshua's mother, said the principal is acting as a witness.

"She said she came back from lunch duty, saw the tape on his face and told the secretary to take it off and not to do it again. And she said she apologized to my son," said Tenner.

Late Monday evening, Denver Public Schools released this statement:

"Based on the evidence confirmed at this stage, the district is taking action to immediately terminate the employee. This is a deeply troubling incident, and this type of conduct is completely reprehensible and inexcusable."

Carter has spent two nights in jail despite the charges against her are misdemeanors. KCNC was told it is the discretion of the arresting officer as to whether she needed to be kept in jail and Denver police decided she should be based on what they called "the magnitude of the crime."

Joshua has not been back in school and his mom plans to enroll him in a new school.