Teacher, aides arrested in relation to secret recordings of W. Va. special needs classroom

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The Berkeley County, West Virginia prosecutor tells ABC7's Scott Taylor that a former teacher and two aides that were caught up in a controversy surrounding a secret recording made in a special education classroom last year were arrested Friday morning.

Amber Pack told ABC7 that she sent her 8-year-old daughter to class with a recording device hidden in a hair barrette after the child didn't want to go back to school.

She said the audio that was captured was horrifying, including quotes like:

• "I ought to backhand you right in your teeth. How is that for anxiety?"
  
• "This one I could punch her right in her face."
  
• "You got to go pee-pee? Pee-pee? Or do you not have to go pee-pee and you just want to go **** *** in a chair?"
  
• "I'm going to pull your hair until you start crying."
  

The next day, Pack alerted the school district and the Martinsburg Police Department.

"I couldn't eat for three days," Pack said. "My stomach. I was so upset. Every time I looked at her I would start crying."

Kasey Murphy, whose 6-year old son Owen is in the same class, said that during a late October 2018 parent-teacher conference, nobody alerted her to the recording, even though Pack had already handed it over to the school district.

"I've never heard from the principal," Murphy said. "Never heard from the Superintendent. I've never heard from any of them."

It wasn't until November, after Pack posted a clip of the recording on Facebook, that Murphy became aware of it.

When ABC7 first reported on this story in February, all three instructors were on paid administrative leave and the The Berkeley County Prosecutor's Office said they had found no criminal wrong doing.

But a civil case was filed in Berkeley County Circuit Court as part of the Attorney General’s exclusive authority to seek an injunction against any person who violates the state’s Human Rights Act, according to a press release from AG Patrick Morrisey's office.

Today, Scott Taylor reports, former teacher Christina Lester and former aides June Yurish and Kristin Douty were arrested and charged with misdemeanor failure to report abuse or neglect to the Department of Health and Human Resources.

“These arrests send a strong message — that child abuse will not be tolerated and must be reported,” AG Morrisey said. “We must continue working to ensure vulnerable children are protected, especially at school.”

ABC7 reached out to the attorney, Christian Riddell, who represents both June Yurish and Kristin Douty. He says they have, “No comment at this time.”

ABC 7 reached out to Christina Lester’s attorney for comment and so far we haven’t received a response.

Amber Pack, who made the secret recording, told ABC7 Friday morning that she has no comment on the arrests. Kasey Murphy, whose son was heard on the recording, also declined to comment.