Sonora Speech Therapist Charged With Child Abuse and Battery at Elementary School

A speech therapist from Tuolumne County has been charged with misdemeanors linked to the alleged assault of a 7-year-old autistic child during a therapy session at Sonora Elementary School, authorities announced. Per the KCRA report, 50-year-old Mary McGrew of Sonora was charged last Thursday with child abuse and battery on school property by the Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office, with the incident reportedly occurring on January 23.

Details emerged after the child's parents reported concerns to the school last Monday, prompting a police investigation, the child, who has remained unnamed for privacy, exhibited behaviors that led to this parental action, and although there were no physical injuries reported at the time of the initial report, the seriousness of the allegations merited a full investigation—said investigation leading to McGrew's arrest warrant being secured and executed by last Thursday at 12:30 p.m. by the Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office, this is according to information detailed in a FOX40 article.

McGrew, who was arrested on allegations of child abuse and battery on school grounds, was booked into Tuolumne County Jail on misdemeanor charges. Sonora police were notified of the incident around 6 p.m. on the day the school was alerted, which led to a swift criminal investigation beginning the next morning and an arrest warrant being issued just days later.

Local authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward and contact the Sonora police department.