A Shasta County school teacher has been arrested on multiple charges of child abuse after a months-long investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
Jandee Marie Smart, 43, of Cottonwood, was arrested on Thursday, April 2, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse, battery, corporal punishment to a child and assault resulting in great bodily harm, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release posted on its Facebook page.
Authorities launched an investigation in February after receiving a report that a North Cottonwood Elementary School teacher allegedly “physically abused several children during the course of her employment,” the sheriff’s office said. “Due to the seriousness of the allegations, the case was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit for follow-up.”
Smart was later identified, and after investigators interviewed witnesses and victims, a felony arrest warrant was issued for her on Thursday, the sheriff’s office said.
Smart’s bail was set at $50,000. On Friday morning, April 3, Smart was not listed in custody on the Shasta County Jail’s website.
North Cottonwood Elementary School did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the department’s Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County school teacher arrested on child abuse charges
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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