- William O’Connell, 24, a behavioral technician at Parker Barney Elementary School in New Hampshire, was charged with assaulting two 7-year-old children.
- Witnesses reported seeing O’Connell throw the boy to the ground, causing facial injuries, and manhandle the girl.
- The incident came weeks after similar accusations against another employee at the same school.
A New Hampshire man was charged Thursday with assaulting two 7-year-olds at an elementary school, two weeks after another employee at the school faced similar charges.
Manchester Police said a witness saw William O’Connell, 24, a behavioral technician at Parker Barney Elementary School, throw the 7-year-old boy to the ground, causing injuries to his face. Police said the man also violently pushed a 7-year-old girl to the floor, but the girl was not injured.
The charges came after another conduct worker was charged with assaulting a 7-year-old student at the same school in an unrelated incident. Both men worked for Applied ABC, a contract provider for the Manchester School District.
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Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said the “horrifying” incident raised serious concerns about Applied ABC’s suitability to provide the service, and the district is now enforcing all contracts with outside employers. He expressed his gratitude for the fact that he was reviewing the situation.
Voters vote at Parker Barney Elementary School on November 8, 2022 in Manchester, New Hampshire. A New Hampshire man has been charged with assaulting two 7-year-olds at the same school, two weeks after similar charges were filed against another employee. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
“The alleged assault is extremely inexcusable and falls far short of the high standards set by the Manchester School District for the safety and well-being of our students,” Lue said in a statement.
Applied ABC said it has a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior toward children.
“Upon learning of the reported incident, Applied ABC notified the appropriate authorities and terminated the employee,” the company said in a statement, according to Boston 25 News.
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In a memo to school districts in January, the company said it has relationships with more than 50 school districts nationwide. The Manchester school has 81 staff members and the company said they undergo rigorous vetting to ensure they have the qualifications and experience.
Police said O’Connell, of Allenstown, turned himself in Wednesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest and was charged with felony counts of second-degree assault and simple assault. It was not immediately clear whether O’Connell had an attorney, and his first arraignment was not scheduled until March 7. He was released on bail.
