CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Twenty employees at a Delaware County charter school have been charged with abusing more than two dozen children under their care.
District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer says the 26 children were in grades K-5, enrolled in Chester Community Charter School’s emotional support program, Team Approach to Achieving Academic Success.
Officials say an investigation began after two parents complained to school officials in January that their children were afraid to attend school “due to fears of being placed in ‘holds’ by school staff.”
According to Chester Township police, staff members used painful techniques, like pinching students on pressure points near their necks, holding them in restraints, and pushing a knee to their back until the student was brought to the ground.
Many of these abuses were captured on surveillance video. Stollsteimer said the investigation revealed that some staffers “physically abused children while others sat passively and watched.”
Investigators say several of the adults who abused these children were employed through a company called Peak Performers Staffing, LLC. The cofounder claimed staff members were trained in safety care techniques, including utilizing restraints and/or crisis prevention. When investigators requested documented proof, it was discovered that none of them had up-to-date required training.
All of the defendants are classified as mandated reporters of incidents of suspected child abuse under Pennsylvania Law.
According to the school’s principal, any use of a safety hold must be reported. None were reported by the school in 2024, when many of the abuses happened.
“This case is every parent’s nightmare. We send our children to school expecting the adults will keep them safe, not abuse them physically and emotionally,” Stollsteimer said.
Stollsteimer says all adults charged are “equally guilty in failing to protect these children, some as young as 5 years old.”
The following individuals are charged with multiple counts related to child abuse:
⦁ Raymond Harris
⦁ Kabree Daniels
⦁ Christian Denny
⦁ Martin Mincey, Jr.
⦁ Harry Woodhouse, Jr
⦁ Amaru Mohammed
⦁ Leroy Campbell
⦁ Adrian Hospedale
⦁ Monica Griffin
⦁ Daemon Pierce
⦁ Don’Neisah King Pierce
⦁ Arijah Clements
⦁ Cyrus Barlee
⦁ Neanne Edmonds
⦁ Breshonna Belgrave
⦁ Deja Bennett-Allen
⦁ Ryan Ridley
⦁ Maggie Moloney
⦁ Dahkeem Williams
⦁ Asia Pena
Harris, Daniels, Denny, Mincey, Woodhouse, Mohammad, Campbell, Hospedale and Griffin are each charged with multiple counts including conspiracy, simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, and failure to report endangering the welfare of a child.
Pierce, King-Pierce, Clements, Barlee, Edmonds, Belgrave, Bennett-Allen, Ridley, Moloney, Williams and Pena are all charged with at least one, in most cases multiple, counts of failure to report the endangering the welfare of a child.
None of the defendants is in custody; several made arrangements to surrender Monday.
Stollsteimer says if there are more victims, they would love for their parents to come forward.
"As we are interviewing these children, we are getting these stories, and if there are more people and more children who want to come forward, we are here for them," he said.