3 women appear in W.Va. court in connection to disturbing comments on secret recordings

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (ABC7) — Former Berkeley County Schools special education teacher Christina Lester and former aides June Yurish and Kristin Douty were all in Berkeley County Circuit Court after their August arrest on a misdemeanor charge in connection to a secret classroom recording that a student’s mother claims revealed disturbing comments by instructors to students in a special education classroom.

Why a motion was filed to ban secret classroom recording in West Virginia court

Instructor #1 on the recording: "I ought to backhand you right in your teeth. How is that for anxiety?"

I-Team Reporter Scott Taylor attempted to talk to all 3 defendants outside the courthouse.

Scott Taylor - “Can you tell me why you made the comments on the recording? Would you like to say anything at all?

Kristin Douty - “No comment.”

All 3 are facing a criminal charge of failure to report abuse or neglect to the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Instructor #2 on the recording: "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?"

Scott Taylor outside the courthouse - “Hey June, do you have an apology for the kids. At all?

June Yurich’s lawyer - “We have no comment.”

Scott Taylor - “Any apology?”

The initial hearing was postponed as the State has filed a motion to have the defendant’s only attorney in court removed due to a conflict of interest.

All three are also facing a civil lawsuit by the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office who call the comments on the recording barbaric.

Instructor #1 on the recording: "This one I could punch her right in her face."

Scott Taylor outside the courthouse attempted to speak to former teacher Christina Lester - “Christina, I’m Scott Taylor with WJLA. I want to give you an opportunity to apologize to the children. Do you have anything to say to the kids. Anything at all. Do you want to apologize to the family? I want to give you an opportunity to apologize.”

All three defendants will be back in court on November 19th to discuss the State’s motion to dismiss their lawyer due to a conflict of interest. So far none of the 3 women have been convicted of any wrongdoing.