A Broward County school bus aide is facing a maximum of 30 years in state prison after being charged with aggravated child abuse. It is alleged that the bus aide, a 48-year old Broward County man, choked a 13-year old autistic boy on a Broward County school bus. The incident was allegedly caught on video.
It is alleged that the bus aide used the boy's seat belt to choke him. Since it is alleged that the bus aide was doing this as a disciplinary measure, he has been charged under a subsection of Florida's child abuse statute that makes it a first-degree felony to administer "malicious punishment" to a child.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward. Attorney Matheny handles child abuse and aggravated child abuse criminal matters.