"Popping him upside his head:" MPS teacher's aide accused of slapping student with Down syndrome

Mary Brown

MILWAUKEE  -- A 62-year-old Milwaukee Public Schools teacher's aide is charged -- accused of striking a special needs student at James Madison Academic Campus. The incident was caught on camera.

62-year-old Mary Brown is facing one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of disorderly conduct.

"You send your kids to school and, you know, you got it in your head that they're safe," said Delmonica Young, the student's mother.

Young spoke with FOX6 shortly after learning the teacher's aide had been captured on video striking her 18-year-old son, who has Down syndrome.

According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened at Madison High School on Monday, January 6th. Brown told investigators she slapped the student in the forehead to get his attention.

Delmonica Young's son

Delmonica Young's son

When Young found out about it, she and supporters went to MPS headquarters seeking more answers.

"It's actually not the first incident," said Young.

James Madison Academic Campus

Young said in September of 2015, there was another incident with the same teacher's aide.

"I have pictures of bruises that my son came home with and he said that she had physically assaulted him," said Young.

Delmonica Young

No charges were filed in that case, and Young's son didn't tell her about this most recent incident. It was the school's principal that let her know.

"It's just heartbreaking to hear that the person that's side-by-side with him every day is popping him upside his head for whatever reason you feel you need to do this. It's sad," Young said.

Brown made her initial appearance in court in this case on February 6th. She has pleaded not guilty. A $250 signature bond was set, and she'll next be in court on March 8th for a pre-trial conference.

The maximum penalty for the charges Brown faces is one year of confinement and $11,000 in fines.