Teacher assistants, students charged after classroom brawl in Osceola County

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County deputies have charged two teacher assistants and three students in a case that centers around a fight inside a public school classroom.

The Discovery Intermediate School teacher assistants were arrested at their homes late Friday and were taken to the county jail, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain.

On Jan. 9 a fight broke out inside a classroom for emotionally disturbed students, authorities said. The brawl got so intense that chairs were thrown, according to the report.

Detectives obtained three videos of the incident, which showed Joseph Graham, a student in the class, kicking another student and pushing him against a computer desk, Lizasuain said.

The student allegedly told the victim, "I will stomp your chest in and kill you."

Two paraprofessionals, Kristie Lee Gilmore and Mona Sagar, were arrested and charged with child neglect. Authorities said they didn't take any action to stop the incident in the classroom.

Authorities said Gilmore and Sagar both had access to a telephone and radio to call for assistance if needed.

According to the report, one student in the class threw a chair and videotaped the incident. Another student also threw a chair after the altercation occurred, authorities said. The students were charged with aggravated battery.

The school district has removed the assistants from the classroom. Both have refused to cooperate with detectives, Lizasuain said.

School officials told investigators they intend to suspend the employees without pay pending school board action on Tuesday.

WFTV