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State drops battery charge against 6-year-old girl
Thursday, June 1, 2006
State prosecutors dropped the charge Wednesday against a 6-year-old Lely
Elementary School student arrested after kicking a teacher a month ago.
Before Takovia Allen was scheduled for a routine hearing in Collier County
Circuit Court on Wednesday, Assistant State Attorney Hoang Dang said the
prosecution would decline to file a document charging the girl with the one
count, battery on a public education employee.
Allen, who was one of six students in a classroom of children with
behavioral problems, was arrested May 2 when she became upset with the teachers
aide, Debra Dolan. After she was kicked, Dolan informed the authorities she
wanted to press charges.
Dang and co-juvenile division prosecutor Amy Wilson said the decision to
not file the charge had nothing to do with a lack of evidence showing Takovia
kicked Dolan in the ankle. The kick caused redness and an abrasion, according to
the arrest report.
Its just more appropriate to deal with her through the school system,
Dang said. Theres not a lot of things we can do with a 6-year-old (in the
court system). Shes not going to understand the nature of the
proceedings.
According to Allens mother, Tamara Williams, 30, the girl kicked the
teachers aide after another student with behavioral problems broke Takovias
pencil. The students were supposed to be lining up to leave for music class, but
Takovia became upset when the aide didnt immediately handle the situation with
the other student and the broken pencil.
Thats consistent with Takovias personality, as recognized by her behavior
plan, her mother said. Such a plan is developed for students so school officials
know what each childs personality quirks and educational needs are. Takovia has
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which causes difficulty paying
attention and focusing. And she has trouble with authority figures if problems
arent handled a specific way.
WEBIFIEDEach plan makes the educators aware of each students challenges and how to
respond to them to prevent bigger problems from developing.
Williams said Takovias behavior plan was ignored. Instead, the 3-foot,
9-inch, 50-pound girl was arrested. Her mother questioned why. A professional
who works with students who have behavioral problems should be able to handle
something that minor, Williams argued.
She does get disciplined at home. Ive punished her for kicking the
teacher. She shouldnt have kicked the lady. But they took it too far, Williams
said.
After her arrest, Takovia was taken to the juvenile jail in East Naples.
She spent four hours there before she was released to her mothers
custody.
In dropping the charge, called a petition for juvenile delinquency, Dang
conferred with the victim and considered the steps Williams already has taken to
address the issue. Williams has her daughter in counseling at the David Lawrence
Center. And the matter will be addressed in a new behavior plan to be
implemented before the fall.
Commentshttp://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/jun/01/charge_dropped_against_girl_who_was_arrested/ |
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