From: Sheriff Mark B. Harrell
Autauga County Sheriff’s Office
The Autauga County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one former teacher and two former teacher aides following an investigation into allegations of child abuse involving children in a self-contained special needs classroom at Billingsley School.
According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation led to the arrests of former teacher Kendra Spencer and former teacher aides Jennifer Davis and Shayla Johnson. Authorities said the charges stem from incidents involving students assigned to the classroom.
Investigators said the case began after allegations of abuse were reported to law enforcement and the school board. Due to the scope of the investigation, investigators and Autauga County School Board employees reviewed hundreds of hours of surveillance footage and other evidence before charges were filed.
Officials said video evidence documenting the alleged abuse was obtained during the investigation.
Two of the three defendants voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities, while the third was taken into custody without incident.
“This investigation required an extraordinary amount of time and resources due to the extensive video evidence that had to be carefully reviewed,” Sheriff Mark Harrell said in a statement. “Our investigators worked diligently to ensure every allegation was thoroughly examined and properly documented with the help of the School Board.”
Harrell also stated that the school board immediately removed the individuals from the classroom once allegations were reported.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities said additional charges may be forthcoming as investigators continue reviewing evidence.
Anyone with additional information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office at (334) 361-2500.
Defendants:
• Kendra Spencer – Former Teacher
• Jennifer Davis – Former Teacher Aide
• Shayla Johnson – Former Teacher Aide
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Autauga County Schools has been made aware that three former employees have been arrested by local law enforcement on child abuse related charges. Due to the ongoing investigation, the district is limited in the details it can share at this time.
“When we became aware of the allegations, we immediately began an internal investigation,” said Lyman Woodfin, Superintendent of Autauga County Schools. “We also contacted the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), the Department of Human Resources (DHR), and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, and have worked cooperatively with all three agencies throughout the investigation. We took swift action regarding the employment status of the individuals involved. The employees in question were immediately placed on administrative leave and removed from campus, and they have since resigned their positions. We do not tolerate conduct that adversely impacts student safety or the educational environment. Any such concerns will be addressed in accordance with district policy and applicable laws.”
