A former school bus aide in Colorado has pleaded guilty to repeatedly assaulting nonverbal children with autism, bringing a disturbing case that stunned parents and prosecutors closer to sentencing.
Authorities said Kiarra Jones, a former aide with Littleton Public Schools, admitted this week to 10 felony counts of third-degree assault on an at-risk child, along with two misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The plea was entered Monday, according to the Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District.
The investigation began after a parent noticed unexplained bruising on her nonverbal son’s foot when he returned home from school. When she asked school officials to review surveillance footage from the bus, the video allegedly revealed Jones physically assaulting the child.
According to prosecutors, further review of bus security footage uncovered additional incidents involving the same child, dating back to February 2024. Investigators later determined that Jones had assaulted two other nonverbal students with autism as well.
Jones, who is 30, was accused of targeting three vulnerable children who were unable to speak for themselves.
“Jones’s underlying assaults were not just criminal, they were cruel,” attorneys representing the affected families said in a statement.
The parents of one victim described the abuse as deliberate and devastating.
“What was done to our son was not a mistake, not a lapse in judgment, and not an accident,” they said. “It was blatant, cruel, and carried out without an ounce of humanity. No guilty plea and no sentence will ever be enough to account for the pain she caused our son and the damage she inflicted on our family.”
Jones initially pleaded not guilty to all charges and was scheduled to face a five-day criminal trial this week before reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
“These children could not speak for themselves, and it was our duty to stand up for them,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo said in a statement. “Today’s guilty plea ensures accountability while allowing the court to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crimes.”
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18 and faces up to 15 years in prison.
Every suspect I read about here is almost always one of the “usual” suspects. But with them comprising only 14% of the population, why is that???
Why???
I wonder how will she respond to the same treatment
And I hope she gets it … and more.