Driftwood Middle Teacher Charged With Child Abuse
COOPER CITY (CBS4) - A seventh grade Driftwood Middle School teacher has been charged with aggravated child abuse for allegedly failing to protect her teenage daughter from her husband's alleged abuse.
Serena Jones, the wife of former Hallandale High principal, Darren Jones surrendered to police on Saturday, according to The Sun-Sentinel.
Darren Jones, 42, was arrested January 15th and charged with aggravated child abuse for allegedly hitting his teenage daughter with an extension cord in the Cooper City home on January 9th. Jones reportedly admitted to hitting his daughter because he was trying to discipline her.
"This is a family matter, a parenting matter. This is not child abuse. This is nothing more than a situation involving an out of control teenage daughter and a loving caring father who is desperately trying to get his daughter back on the right track," Jones' attorney Eric Schwartzreich told CBS4 shortly after Darren Jones' arrest. "There is a difference between child abuse and disciplining an out-of-control teenage girl. This is a case of discipline."
According to report by Child Protective Services Jones' 16-year old daughter had visible bruising on her arms, legs and back.
Serena Jones is not accused of any violence against her daughter.
The couple's three children, including the teenage daughter, are staying with relatives until their parents' criminal cases are resolved.
Source: The Sun-Sentinel
