Former WISD aide receives one year of probation for misdemeanor assault
Former Washtenaw Intermediate School District aide Michael Beasley was sentenced to one year of probation today after being convicted of slapping a special education student.
Beasley also was ordered to undergo mental health and domestic abuse counseling and pay assorted fines. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of assault in September, in exchange for prosecutors dropping felony charges.
Michael Beasley
The sentence was handed down by Judge David Swartz and was the same recommended by prosecutors.
Paula Saunders, the mother of the the 12-year-old autistic student Beasley was accused of striking across the face, told Swartz Beasley deserved whatever sentence was given to him.
“When we send our kids to school, we expect them to be safe,” she said. “It is unbelievable to harm these students, and Mr. Beasley thought it was OK. My son could not communicate this abuse, and you cannot imagine how that made me feel.”
Saunders told the judge her son was hit so hard his face had a red mark for 15 minutes. She said Beasley has shown no remorse, and the allegations from other parents regarding abuse of their children showed a pattern.
Doug Mullkoff, Beasley’s attorney, said his client spent 10 years caring for special needs children and had no prior contact with the law.
Mullkoff said the sentence was redundant because Beasley is already on probation through the 15th District Court for a separate but related conviction. Mullkoff said the number of supporters in the crowd were a testimony to Beasley’s character.
“There are 18 supporters from Mr. Beasley’s church and the community here, and they have come to every proceeding,” he said. “They have come not at my asking or Mr. Beasley’s asking, but of their own volition.”
Beasley was charged earlier this year in separate cases involving two students, and was charged with a felony and misdemeanor in both. He was convicted of a misdemeanor charge for pinching another 12-year-old student.
Beasley was originally cleared of the charges by the WISD's leadership, but when parents went to police and Beasley was criminally charged, he was fired by the WISD.
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
Cossur
Sun, Oct 17, 2010 : 7:31 p.m.
Unless you were in the presence of this man when the incident occurred AND were in the courtroom for all of the testimony AND were privvy to the information that was not considered relevant, I don't think your judgements mean much. Child abuse is not OK. Having said that, consider what is involved here. If Mr. Beasley's actions were completely blown out of proportion, then those who believe it wasn't can be assured that he won't be "unguarded." If the situation was as vile as his accusers believe it was, how will jail time serve ANY purpose? We taxpayers do not need to pay to house and feed a man who is hardly likely to roam the streets looking for a child to abuse. Much better to have him use his time productively.
abc
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 3:30 p.m.
"There are 18 supporters from Mr. Beasleys church and the community here, and they have come to every proceeding, he said. They have come not at my asking or Mr. Beasleys asking, but of their own volition. Mr Beasley must be a very good friend to many people. It doesn't make him suitable to work with children and adults that have disabilities and cannot speak for themselves. The parents, teacher and other teacher aid thankful listened to the distress caused by the Mr. Beasley's unacceptable behavior. To slap a child because he was displaying fear or distress through sounds...the only way he could communicate, is not alright,ever.
Life in Ypsi
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
This man should be in jail!
Rod Johnson
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.
No one "needs to be put in a place where he can endure some abuse." Abuse is not justice.
Sherry
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 7:39 a.m.
Yet another abuser getting off way to easy. Our schools do not protect our children, it is a shame cause this guy needs to be put in a place where he can endure some abuse but as usual the Criminal Justice System does NOT protect our children either. You spend more time in jail for driving drunk then hurting a child...what does that say about our country....sad, sad, sad.