Employee caught on camera pinching 3-year-old boy with autism in groin: Cops

September 17, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A preschool worker in Florida has been charged with child cruelty after punishing a 3-year-old boy with autism by allegedly pinching his groin and pulling him by the ear, authorities said.

The incident took place at the CHILD Center for Early Learning, and the worker, 28-year-old Keoni Ellis, now faces a charge of cruelty to children without great bodily harm, according to court records.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the possible child abuse by the Department of Children and Families, which led deputies to the preschool on Thursday. The alleged abuse occurred the day before and was captured on surveillance video.

According to the arrest report, Ellis was supervising a classroom of children with autism when the boy and another student began playing around. Surveillance footage showed Ellis approaching the boy, crouching down, and then pinching his groin or upper thigh area.

The child immediately recoiled and rubbed the area where he was pinched, appearing to be in discomfort. Afterward, the boy distanced himself and sat with his legs crossed, showing signs of unease.

A minute later, the students resumed playing, and Ellis again approached the boy, this time grabbing him by the ear and shoulder and pulling him away. The child appeared to be in pain during this second encounter.

When questioned by detectives, Ellis claimed that the boy’s mother had given her permission to discipline him by pinching.

However, after deputies showed her the video, she denied pinching the boy in the groin, stating instead that she only touched him and whispered in his ear, threatening to inform his mother about his misbehavior.

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Despite her denial, detectives noted that the boy had sustained minor injuries to his left arm and neck. Ellis was arrested and taken to the Alachua County Jail but has since been released on a $5,000 bond.