Crime & Safety
Teacher's Aide 'Body Slammed' Several Toddlers At NJ School: Records
The 19-year-old was charged with injuring a young boy in her care, and reportedly was seen on video treating several children roughly.
WAYNE, NJ — A teacher's aide accused of dragging and slamming a toddler at a Wayne preschool was seen on video doing the same thing to other children in the classroom, court documents show.
In November, Passaic County officials charged Meghan Hornidge, 19, of River Edge with fourth-degree abuse of a child and simple assault after she reportedly injured a 2-year-old child in her care. Hornidge was working at Apple Montessori Wayne at the time of the alleged assault, and her case was forwarded to the grand jury for further review.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges, someone from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office saying Hornidge was seen "aggressively picking up (multiple) children and 'body slamming' them" via video footage on Aug. 12.
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The person who reported the footage said that Hornidge was rough with five or six children in the room, but that one boy was being treated "the worst," documents show.
This witness also contacted the school after speaking with officials, and provided investigators with a copy of the footage.
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"Upon receiving said camera footage, (Hornidge) was observed to be slamming children in and around the classroom," a detective with the Prosecutor's Office wrote. One boy, who is not named, sustained bruising on his back.
Officials contacted the child's father, and were able to document the boy's back injuries.
Both of the child's parents were told separately by staff that the boy had been "tossed around" and "attacked" at the school, court records show.
The family's legal team released a statement last week, saying they went through "every parent's nightmare" and that more charges may be forthcoming.
The preschool, day care, and elementary school is located at 25 Nevins Road in Wayne. Apple Montessori Schools CEO Andrea Vargas said Hornidge was immediately terminated once officials there were notified, and that the school promptly notified parents and state authorities.
The family has chosen to remain anonymous, and requested privacy as the investigation continues.
Attorney information for Hornidge was not listed.
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