20 Charged After Child Abuse Uncovered At PA Charter School: DA

CHESTER, PA — Twenty people who worked at a Delaware County charter school have been accused of abusing more than two dozen students in Kindergarten through fifth grade.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said the Chester Community Charter School workers were charged with multiple counts related to child abuse against 26 children in grades K-5 who were enrolled in the school’s Team Approach to Achieving Academic Success program, a positive emotional support program.

These charges stem from a police investigation that began after two parents complained to school officials in January that their children were afraid to attend school over fears of being placed in "holds" by school staff.

Authorities said an investigation by Chester Township police revealed nine of the accused used techniques to restrain and punish children who were enrolled in the Team Approach to Achieving Academic Success program.

Authorities said the workers used "painful" techniques, such as pinching students on pressure points near their necks, holding them in restraints, and threatening them with what the students called "shoulder work," which involved pinching students on pressure points near their necks, placing them in holds with their arms crossed in front of them, and having a knee put to their back until the student was brought to the ground.

Many of these abuses were captured on surveillance camera footage obtained and reviewed by investigators, according to the DA's office.

During the investigation, authorities learned that several of the accused were employees of a company called Peak Performers Staffing, LLC, co-founded by Jennifer Woodhouse and Emmanuel Gilbert of Chester.

Woodhouse told authorities Peak Performers staff were trained in safety-care techniques, when investigators requested records documenting staff training in using restraints and/or crisis prevention techniques, it was later learned that not even one of Peak Performers staff had the up to date required training, authorities said.

Investigators also learned, from the school’s building principal, that any use of a "safety hold" must be reported pursuant to Pennsylvania guidelines.

The principal told investigators that no safety holds were reported by the school for 2024, during the time many of the alleged abuse took place, according to authorities.

"This case is every parent’s nightmare. We send our children to school expecting the adults will keep them safe, not abuse them physically and emotionally," Stollsteimer said. "Our investigation showed some staffers physically abusing children while others sat passively and watched. All the adults charged are equally guilty in failing to protect these children, some as young as 5 years old."

Charged are:

• Raymond Harris;
• Kabree Daniels;
• Christian Denny;
• Martin Mincey, Jr.;
• Harry Woodhouse, Jr;
• Amaru Mohammed;
• Leroy Campbell;
• Adrian Hospedale;
• Monica Griffin;
• Daemon Pierce;
• Don’Neisah King Pierce;
• Arijah Clements;
• Cyrus Barlee;
• Neanne Edmonds;
• Breshonna Belgrave;
• Deja Bennett-Allen;
• Ryan Ridley;
• Maggie Moloney;
• Dahkeem Williams;
• and Asia Pena

Harris, Daniels, Denny, Mincey, Woodhouse, Mohammad, Campbell, Hospedale, and Griffin are each charged with multiple counts including conspiracy, simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, and failure to report endangering the welfare of a child.

Pierce, King-Pierce, Clements, Barlee, Edmonds, Belgrave, Bennett-Allen, Ridley, Moloney, Williams, and Pena are all charged with at least one, in most cases multiple, counts of failure to report the endangering the welfare of a child.

All 20 are mandated reporters of incidents of suspected child abuse under Pennsylvania Law, according to authorities. None are in custody yet, but the DA's office said several have made arrangements to surrender Monday.

"I want to commend Chester Township Detective Patrick Mullen and Patrolman Michael J. Strofe, as well as Deputy District Attorney Kristen Kemp for their work in leading this investigation.” Chester Township Police Chief Kenneth Coalson said. "Our investigation revealed a toxic and abusive relationship existed inside Chester Community Charter School for children enrolled in the emotional support program. I am proud that today we are holding the support staff, teachers, and even a Dean of Students accountable for abusing or failing to report the abuse, of vulnerable children."

Patch has reached out to Chester Community Charter School for information on the employment status of the accused staff and will update the story when additional information is made available.