Former teacher pleads guilty in assault of autistic boy

A former teacher at a Springfield school for the severely disabled has pleaded guilty to assaulting a young autistic boy who cannot speak.

As a result of the plea agreement, Janet Carrie Williams is expected to avoid jail time — unless she fails to satisfy the conditions of her probation — and is no longer allowed to volunteer or work near children.

Williams, 65, of Lebanon, was charged after allegations surfaced that the longtime teacher at the Greene Valley State School repeatedly hit the 7-year-old boy and called him names, including "idiot."

She pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, on Oct. 5 and was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and was required to pay $138.50 in court costs. If she violates probation she could serve up to 15 days in the Greene County Jail.

The Greene County Prosecutor's Office dropped a more serious misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child, which could have carried up to one year in jail.

Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Chapman acknowledged it was a "very sensitive case" and he believes the plea agreement was fair.

"I sat down with the father of the child and talked out what his expectations are," Chapman said. "I told him I'd like to have a conviction on the assault and for (Williams) not to be able to be around children anymore."

The provision prohibits Williams from working or volunteering near any child under age 17.

Chapman said the boy's family also indicated it wanted to "move on and not have a trial."

No phone number was listed for Williams but her attorney, Larry Catt, said she was satisfied with the outcome. He said she spent two decades working with children who have severe disabilities because she had "a passion" to help them but also acknowledged placing a hand on the child in an attempt to calm the classroom.

"She knows it was wrong and was willing to accept responsibility," he said.

Catt said he felt strongly that there was not enough evidence to support the more serious charge of endangering the welfare of a child. He said Williams pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, which he said the law defines as "offensive" behavior where no one was physically hurt.

"She just decided 'I shouldn't have done that' — 'I was trying to control the classroom and shouldn't have done that,'" Catt said. "She felt bad about it."

As for the condition that Williams no longer work near children, Catt said Williams agreed. "Janet retired and doesn't plan on teaching again," he said.

Springfield teacher charged with slapping, striking autistic child

As the criminal case played out, the family was also involved in a federal lawsuit against the Greene Valley State School, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Missouri Board of Education. The suit, which was settled this summer, also named Williams and her supervisor, Peggy Robinson.

U.S. Magistrate Judge David Rush approved a $350,000 settlement in the case in late June. According to a state official, the settlement amount was paid out of the state's legal expense fund.

Late last year, the boy's father received an anonymous letter alleging Williams slapped the boy "with an open hand" and had been "demeaning and hostile toward her students" at the school, located on Pythian Street in Springfield. He showed the letter to the Springfield Police Department, which launched an investigation.

According to court records, the boy was diagnosed with autism, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He also weighed less than 100 pounds.

"All children are vulnerable," said Chapman, who handled the case. "But this was an extra vulnerable child."

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