Lee Co. teacher on administrative leave following felony cruelty to children charges; investigation ongoing
LEESBURG, Ga. – A Lee county teacher is facing serious charges after being accused of cruelty to children.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 39-year-old Ashton Long Cleveland was arrested and charged with three felony counts of Cruelty to Children. Cleveland has since been released on a $5,000 dollar bond.
The incident leading to Cleveland’s arrest unfolded on April 12th at Kinchafoonee Primary School. Lee County Schools authorities raised concerns about Cleveland’s interaction with a 9-year-old special needs student, prompting police involvement.
An incident report from the Leesburg Police Department reveals multiple instances captured on security cameras, showing Cleveland’s inappropriate handling of not only the special needs student, but also another student in a separate incident.
In response, Lee County Schools issued a statement reiterating their dedication to student safety.
In part, it reads, quote, “The district takes these types of offenses very seriously. As always, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, and the school system will continue to follow all safety policies and procedures.”
Cleveland has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation progresses.
Law enforcement continues to investigate, reviewing additional surveillance footage, and suspecting there may be more victims. We will continue to provide more updates as the situation develops.
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