A Mobile County mother arrested and charged with willful abuse could face more charges, according to Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch.
Nichole Staples, who was a teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, was arrested on Wednesday after a video of her beating a child was circulated on social media.
Burch said the charge stems solely from the actions in the video. Staples spanked her son 23 times with a belt, pulled his hair and slapped his arms, while yelling and cursing at the child.
After receiving video from multiple people, Burch said action was required. After interviewing those involved and consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, the decision was made to charge Staples.
Burch said due to prior incidents, more charges are likely.
“I'm being careful not to divulge details of the investigation, but this is not a first-time occurrence,” Burch told 1819 News. “This is not the first child or even the second child that's been a victim of this. So, this is, based on what we're learning from the investigation, a common occurrence in the home.”
According to Alabama law, willful abuse occurs when a responsible person tortures, willfully abuses, willfully mistreats, cruelly beats, or otherwise willfully maltreats any child under the age of 18 years.
Burch said it is clear that Staples willfully mistreated and cruelly beat her child. He said punishments can become excessive when corrective action is done out of anger.
“All four of my children know what a belt feels like, or a hand,” Burch added. “But I think, you know, discipline is for corrective action and two, three, maybe even four, and there is no specific number within the law. You know, pops with the belt should get the point across.
The mother and father of the children agreed to place them with relatives.
Staples is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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