WOODLAND-
Disturbing images of a 7-year-old special needs girl were made public Wednesday when her parents, William and Emily Gutierez, announced a civil lawsuit against the Woodland Unified School District for the way administrators handled the case.
“She told me she had an owie, and then pointed to her private parts,” Mrs. Gutierez told FOX40.
At the time of the alleged assault in 2010, the child was only capable of communicating one word at a time, part of the reason the prosecutors in Yolo County were unable to file criminal charges against the school bus driver. A district attorney’s office spokesperson told FOX40 there was not enough evidence to prosecute.
School district spokesperson Tom Pritchard told FOX40 Wednesday that Anderson was placed on administrative leave the same day the assault was reported.
“I would say we wouldn’t have any incentive at all to sweep this under the carpet, because number one, our highest priority is student safety,” said Pritchard.
“As a dad, I feel like a failure,” Mr. Gutierez told FOX40. “There are times where I feel she is distant from her father for a simple kiss on the cheek.”
A family member of driver told FOX40 Wednesday that he now works for a standard bus company in Sacramento.
