A former Littleton Public Schools paraprofessional, who was hired to assist non-verbal autistic students on their school bus, is facing 10 additional child assault and abuse charges. The charges are added to an initial charge filed by police in April.
Kiarra Jones, 29, faces nine counts of crimes against at-risk children or adult, third degree assault, and two counts of child abuse/reckless bodily injury.
She is accused of harming students on the bus to and from Joshua School, a private facility in Englewood for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities.
An arraignment is set for Jones on July 1, Eric Ross, public information officer for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said. Jones remains out of custody on bond, Ross added.
Qusair Mohamedbhai, a lawyer representing two of three families represented by Denver-based firm, Rathod | Mohamedbhai firm, said 10-year-old Dax Vestal and 10-year-old Andrew McBride were victims identified in the case.
“Each felony charge represents a separate day in which multiple instances of abuse occurred,” Mohamedbhai said.
Vestal has been identified as the student Jones is allegedly striking in a video made public and shown by news outlets throughout the world around the time of Jones’ arrest in April.
Jessica Vestal, Dax’s mother, said in a phone interview with the Englewood Herald, as the additional charges were filed against Jones on May 3, that she believes the charges are a “step in the right direction.”
“I know that all of the footage has yet to be watched,” Vestal said. “I think we’re all just hoping there is more to come … We’re just hoping that everything within the law that can be applied here is.”
Vestal said prior to the events on the bus, Dax was an “affectionate, loving, smiling, giggling boy” whose mood and behaviors began to shift six months ago.
“It just kind of robbed him of his personhood,” Jessica said.
Blake McBride, Andrew’s father, also noticed behavioral changes in his son, whom he describes as “loving.”
“To describe Andrew; he’s just a quiet guy who loves to be around everybody,” McBride said. “He loves sharing movies with people. He loves dancing. He’s Andrew.”
McBride feels “50/50” on the additional charges raised against Jones, as he knows Englewood police and prosecutors are “doing what they can with what they have to work with,” but wants more accountability.
“I feel like there should be more charges only because there is so much more time that has gone on and they don’t have all the video,” he said. “I really feel like she is getting away with a lot more than what has been going on versus what the prosecution can actually hold her accountable for.”
The court appearance is one of the first in what could be a drawn-out series of proceedings.
Kevin Yarbrough is the father of 11-year-old Hunter Yarbrough, who also rode Bus L76 with Dax and Andrew and Jones. He said Hunter hasn’t been formally identified as a victim in the case against Jones but police are reviewing video footage and he believes it’s possible that injuries his son sustained, including a broken toe, came from his time on the bus.
“We have documented incidents that we think came from the bus and it would be shocking if it didn’t come from the bus,” Kevin said.
The additional charges come after many Littleton parents and residents expressed their frustration and concerns at two Littleton Board of Education meetings in April, some parents calling for the resignation of district Superintendent Todd Lambert.
Englewood police said the investigation into Jones began in March when the Littleton Police Department contacted the agency about an incident that occurred on the bus while it was in Englewood.
Police investigators “determined that more than one non-verbal autistic student was assaulted by the suspect on a moving school bus while en route to school,” an initial press release said.
A page on the Rathod | Mohamedbhai firm website detailing the background of the case shows the families hired lawyers to represent them “concerning the mistreatment their children endured.”
“Beginning in approximately September 2023, each family saw significant shifts in their child’s behavior and noticed physical injuries on their child, including unexplained scratches, bruises, a lost tooth, a broken toe, a black eye and other deep bruises on their bodies and feet,” a press release said. “The parents independently communicated their concerns to the Joshua School.”
Littleton Public Schools was also notified of the concerns and investigation into Jones.
In a letter the district sent on April 5 to the “families of LPS students who ride bus L76 to the Joshua School,” LPS said Jones was hired in August 2023 “after satisfactory reference checks and after passing a thorough background check.”
“She had very limited access to students during her employment with LPS,” the letter continued. “She has had no contact with students since March 19, the day her employment was terminated.”
All the parents said they feel LPS has not addressed or taken accountability for this situation or made efforts to evoke change and prevention. The parents said they have not been formally and directly contacted by the district since April 5.
The parents said their children have been doing better since they removed them from the bus in March and they’re seeking therapy and ways to help their sons heal.