> At a Glance
> – Kiarra Jones, 30, pleaded guilty to 10 felony assaults and 2 misdemeanor child-abuse counts
> – Hidden bus-camera footage showed her repeatedly striking three nonverbal students with autism beginning in February 2024
> – Families call the attacks “cruel” and “without an ounce of humanity”
> – Why it matters: A parent’s bruise discovery exposed a months-long pattern of violence against children who could not speak for themselves
A Colorado school-bus aide’s guilty plea this week closed a case that began when a mother noticed unexplained bruises on her nonverbal son and asked to see the bus surveillance video.
Guilty Plea Ends Trial Before It Started
Kiarra Jones, formerly employed by Littleton Public Schools, admitted to 10 felony counts of third-degree assault on an at-risk child plus two misdemeanor child-abuse charges on Monday. The deal averted a scheduled five-day trial and caps a criminal probe launched after the boy’s parent spotted the injuries in 2024.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo said:
> “These children could not speak for themselves, and it was our duty to stand up for them. Today’s guilty plea ensures accountability while allowing the court to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crimes.”
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office says Jones now faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on March 18.
Footage Revealed Repeat Attacks
Investigators reviewed bus security recordings and found Jones assaulted the same student multiple times starting in February 2024. Additional footage showed two more nonverbal children with autism were also abused.
Parents of one victim issued this statement through their attorneys:
> “What was done to our son was not a mistake, not a lapse in judgment, and not an accident. It was blatant, cruel, and carried out without an ounce of humanity.”
Key Takeaways
- 10 felony and 2 misdemeanor counts admitted by Jones
- Up to 15 years in prison possible at March sentencing
- Three nonverbal students with autism were assaulted
- Bus-camera evidence triggered the entire investigation
Jones remains free until her sentencing, a delay the families say adds to their pain as they wait for a court judgment that can never fully repair the damage done to their children.
