Teacher 'locked Down syndrome boy in cage, let teen soil himself and denied him food' - as school makes appalling excuse
A Kansas school employee has been accused of locking a boy with Down Syndrome in a cage and subjecting him to vile abuse, according to a lawsuit.
The individual, named as Albert Bahret, was assigned to the 15-year-old victim as a paraprofessional to help with his special needs, but instead allegedly put him through a demeaning and humiliating ordeal.
Per a lawsuit filed by the child's parents Heather and Jeff Bahner, the teaching assistant also screamed in the teen's face, pulled him by the shirt collar, struck him, and locked him in a utility closet multiple times.
The lawsuit also singles out the Kaw Valley school district and other special education staff, who allegedly failed to step in when they discovered the abuse.
It is also claimed that when the issue of the student's treatment was raised, officials described his ordeal merely as 'how you have to handle him.'
A Kansas special needs paraprofessional allegedly took this image of a student with Downs Syndrome locked in a supply cage as he is accused of subjecting the teen to a barrage of abuse
Other staff allegedly discovered the ordeal when Bahret took a photo of the student in the cage and sent it around while comparing him to an animal.
In the Bahner's lawsuit, they allege that their disabled son, named only as CB, was subjected to such severe abuse that his federal civil rights for people with disabilities were violated.
No criminal charges have been brought against Behret or anyone else named in the lawsuit.
CB reportedly began attending St. Mary's Junior and High School in 2022, at which time Behret was assigned to help handle his special education needs.
But the abuse allegedly began soon after, including Behret allegedly locking CB in a closet 'not designed or intended to be used to place students for any reason', per the Kansas City Star.
Behret is also accused of striking the child in the face and pulling him by the shirt collar so hard it strangled CB, per the lawsuit.
The teaching assistant would also allegedly disappear with CB for 'great lengths of time to unknown locations and for unknown reasons', and would leave CB in soiled clothes, the lawsuit claimed.
Because CB's disabilities mean he is partially non-verbal, he reportedly could only describe the alleged abuse by using the words 'hit', 'Bert' and 'closet.'
The alleged abuse unfolded at St. Mary's Junior and High School in Kansas, after the teaching assistant was assigned to 'CB' to help handle his special needs
An image contained in the lawsuit was allegedly taken by the paraprofessional, showing CB locked in a cage, which was then allegedly sent around to other employees at the school district.
The sharing of the image was allegedly accompanied by comparing 'CB to an animal and making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.'
It is claimed that when school district officials became aware of the abuse, they deemed the actions to be no more than 'tough love' and was merely 'how you have to handle him.'
CB's parents said the alleged ordeal led to self-harm and a severe fear of dark rooms and spaces, and caused his communication issues to deteriorate, the lawsuit claimed.
'C.B. quit using his words, and now just stands and drools. He is terrified of the dark,' the lawsuit alleged. 'He rips his hair out, so much so that he has large bald spots on his head.'
The two other special education staffers accused in the lawsuit allegedly witnessed or understood the nature of the ordeal, but 'actively participated in defendants' campaign to hide the unlawful conduct', the lawsuit claims.
Despite the severe nature of the allegations, Bahret and two other special education teachers named in the lawsuit are reportedly still employed by Kaw Valley school district.
Kaw Valley superintendent Kerry Lacock acknowledged the lawsuit, and said in a statement the district was intent on making 'our schools the safe and caring place our community expects and deserves'
The alleged victim's parents said through their attorney that they were 'horrified' by the alleged abuse, and said they 'look forward to prosecuting their case and receiving justice'
The district's superintendent Kerry Lacock told the Kansas City Star that the district is aware of the allegations in the lawsuit, but was restricted in its response due to confidentiality laws.
'We are asking our families and employees to report any concerns about inappropriate conduct without delay,' Lacock said in a statement.
'It takes all of us working together — teachers, staff and student families — to make our schools the safe and caring place our community expects and deserves.'
An attorney for the parents, Matthew Rogers, said in a statement to the outlet that no student suffering from disabilities 'should be forced to endure the discriminatory treatment that C.B. has gone through at the hands of the school district.'
'The Bahners were horrified to learn that C.B. — a particularly vulnerable child, given the extent of his disabilities and that he is only partially verbal — experienced the treatment described in their lawsuit, including placement of C.B. in a locked cage,' Rogers said.
'The Bahners look forward to prosecuting their case and receiving justice for C.B.'
The Kaw Valley school district did not appear to have a contact available to be reached for further comment.
