Parent who assaulted school secretary fined

January 31, 2006

MARY AMES\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - A Palmer District Court judge on Thursday sentenced a Pioneer Peak Elementary parent who assaulted the school secretary last May to pay a $500 fine and apologize, and imposed a suspended prison term.

Sammie Jo Wilson, 35, was charged with fourth-degree assault after she grabbed Toni Hartley by the hair, bent Hartley over at the waist and punched her head repeatedly about 2 p.m. May 6, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Wilson came to the school to pick up a student, but refused to show any identification, according to the report.

When Hartley requested identification in accordance with school district policy, Wilson responded that the request was crazy, that her ID was in the car and that she wanted the teacher in charge, the report said.

The student had been sick all day, but the phone numbers the school had for a parent contact were not working, Hartley said Friday.

&#8220She was very defensive coming in the door,” Hartley said. &#8220I told her we needed to get new phone numbers and she said she didn't have time. There were younger children in the lobby waiting to leave school and she was profane, saying this was &#8220f—— crazy.”

Wilson went back toward her car and Hartley went to get the child from the nurse's office, the report said. The child had followed Wilson out into the parking lot, though, and Hartley went back out, put her arm around the child and started to walk her back into the school, stating she needed to positively identify Wilson before she could let the student leave with her, according to troopers.

Another parent at the school was driving away at the time, but saw the assault in her rear-view mirror and stopped, the report said.

Wendy Sant told troopers she saw Wilson grab Hartley and punch her multiple times, the report said. Sant said she ran over to stop the confrontation.

It all happened so fast, Hartley said, that at first she didn't know she was injured.

&#8220I realized I was hurt when I went back into school and people were staring at me,” she said. &#8220I had blood on my face. I had reached back to get her to let go and damaged my ulna nerve. I still have a dead spot in my hand and arm.”

Wilson, who switched from a public defender to Anchorage attorney Wayne Anthony Ross for her defense in October, pleaded no contest to the assault charge and received a $500 fine, which was fully suspended, and a 30-day suspended jail sentence, according to court records.

Wilson was also ordered to deliver a letter of apology by Feb. 14, must stay away from Hartley and may not enter Pioneer Peak Elementary School property, records show.

&#8220She made a statement to the court that ‘things got out of control,” Hartley said. &#8220She never said. ‘I got out of control.' And she had violated the restraining order by coming to school the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following this incident.”

Wilson told the troopers that &#8220she basically lost control,” and had five kids home sick, according to troopers.

Hartley read a statement in court to Wilson.

&#8220Your actions and words were witnessed by those parents in the lobby at kindergarten pick up time,” Hartley wrote in part of her statement. &#8220Your stepdaughter witnessed your horrific attack, and words, in total silence. I'm sad that she has now left her school and friends and has that picture of your attack on me that day forever locked away in her mind. The emotional and physical effects from your assault include doctor visits, hepatitis shots, physical therapy, and still I have nerve damage that the doctor says will take up to two years to heal before I regain full feeling in my arm and hand. These medical bills have amounted to $11,000. These doctor visits took time away from my famly, my job and missed sports activities with my kids.”

Dan Molina, the school's principal, said he has never seen an incident like this happen before, and that because of this incident, Alaska passed a new law making an assault on school grounds an automatic felony.

&#8220Toni is a wonderful employee,” Molina said. &#8220She is the perfect front office employee - pleasant, efficient and always concerned for the safety of the students.”

In general, safe schools are a priority, according to Kim Floyd, spokeswoman for the Mat-Su Borough School District.

&#8220We work with students on anti-bullying,” Floyd said. &#8220Adults are models for our children and we expect them to display appropriate behavior. This is rare. We have wonderful parents. One individual crossed the line, and we support prosecution. We have front-office staff to make sure people who come in have a right to be there. We work hard toward maintaining a safe learning environment.”

Contact Mary Ames at 352-2284 or mary.ames@frontiersman.com.