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Three teachers in St. Charles Parish were arrested after an elementary school student returned home with bruises, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that the child’s mother reached out to R.J. Vial Elementary School in Paradis on Friday after observing “unusual bruising on the child’s right bicep, left chest area, and back close to the left shoulder blade.”

School administrators reviewed video footage of the incident and daily logs to determine how the student sustained the bruises.

Shortly after, officials from the St. Charles Parish School System contacted the Sheriff’s Office, allowing detectives to secure arrest warrants for Richard Hudson II, 44, a teacher; Quiana Smith, 46, a para-educator; and Misty Schaubhut, 47, a substitute teacher.

Hudson and Smith were booked on one count of cruelty to juveniles, a felony, while Schaubhut was booked on one count of failure to report abuse, a misdemeanor.

In September 2024, Schaubhut was announced as the RJV’s faculty member of the month for August for her excellence and commended as a “beacon of positivity and support”. 

“Her infectious optimism and dedication ensure every student has the best chance to thrive and succeed here at R.J.,” the school statement read.

Regina McMillan, Director of Public Information for St. Charles Parish Public Schools, confirmed that R.J. Vial administrators are investigating the incident and that associated employees are on leave pending the outcome.

“As this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide further details. We remain committed to handling this matter diligently and under our policies, procedures, and the law,” she said.