Aaniyah Brown, an employee at an Augusta autism therapy center, faces first-degree cruelty to children charges after allegedly stepping on a 5-year-old boy's face and back. The incident, captured on security video on April 28, prompted her arrest by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. She was released on $22,000 bond.
Aaniyah Brown, who worked at Circle City ABA in Augusta, Georgia, allegedly dug her foot into the face and back of a 5-year-old boy while he tried to stand up from the floor. The April 28 incident occurred at the autism therapy center and was recorded by the facility's security cameras. A complainant notified authorities that Tuesday, leading police to view the footage on site, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and local reports from WRDW and WAGT. Brown claimed she used her foot to keep the child from harming her. She was arrested, booked into Richmond County jail, and later released on $22,000 bond while awaiting her next court date. Circle City ABA describes its services as providing ABA therapy in playrooms and motor rooms with experienced therapists to help children improve communication and social skills. The center's job status for Brown remained unclear, and officials did not respond to requests for comment.