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Attorneys representing several families said the children had injuries that included unexplained scratches, bruises, a lost tooth, a broken toe and a black eye.
LITTLETON, Colo. — Prosecutors filed nearly a dozen additional charges against a bus aide accused of assaulting special needs children on a school bus in Littleton.
Kiarra Jones was arrested April 4 on a single count of assault. Prosecutors filed a motion to add 10 new charges. They include eight charges of third-degree assault against at-risk minors and two charges for child abuse. That brings the total charges to 11.
Video from a school bus shows her repeatedly hitting a nonverbal boy as he was strapped into a harness. That video prompted Englewood Police to arrest her on suspicion of felony assault.
Attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai, represents at least two families whose children ride the bus. A video released by his firm last month shows a March 18 incident on the bus. The video shows Jones sitting next to a boy who is 10 years old. Jones appears to elbow the boy in the midsection and then strike him in the face with her fist. Then Jones appears to stomp on his feet.
Families believe the abuse began well before then, according to the law firm.
The law firm said that each family saw “significant shifts” in their child’s behavior around September of last year, about a month after the Littleton Public School District said Jones was hired. They also noticed physical injuries that included unexplained scratches, bruises, a lost tooth, a broken toe, a black eye, and other deep bruises on their bodies and feet.
In a communication to families, the district said Jones was hired in August 2023 after passing a background check and was fired on March 19, the day after the incident. The school district said she had “very limited access” to students during her employment.
Jones is due in court at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
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