LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / August 22, 2000

ST. ROSE – A special education aide with 18 years of experience was bookedAug. 18 and charged with three counts of cruelty to a juvenile.St. Charles Schools spokeswoman Rochelle Touchard said the three allegedvictims, boys ages 8, 8 and 9, were reportedly slapped and yanked by Lamour Mary Griffin, 57, of Springfield, on three occasions between March and May at St. Rose Primary School.The report was immediately turned in by a school system employee who is said to have witnessed the incidents. Parallel investigations began by theschool system and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.”As soon as we learned of it we initiated our own investigation at the same time as the sheriff’s office was contacted,” Touchard elaborated.

Throughout the investigations the parents of the children were kept informed as to the progress, Touchard said. “We were very open with them,making sure they were abreast of everything going on.”Meanwhile, Griffin’s resignation was accepted May 24 and she has not been back at school.

A warrant was issued for Griffin’s arrest on the charges, and she surrendered voluntarily, Capt. Patrick Yoes of the sheriff’s office said.Griffin was first employed by the school system in 1981 and, except for the 1984-1985 term when she was at Destrehan Junior High School in a similar position, she worked at St. Rose Primary as a special education aide.Her employment record was spotless, Touchard added, with no prior reports of improper incidents. “It was a very credible record.”Griffin has since been released on a $35,000 bond set by 29th Judicial District Court Kirk Granier.

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