KINGWOOD, W.Va. — A Central Preston Middle School teacher has been arrested and charged with child abuse after allegedly using duct tape to tape a child’s mouth shut and restrain him.
Cassandra Sisler, 43, who has been president of the Preston County Education Association, was arrested Friday by West Virginia State Police in connection with an incident authorities said happened earlier this month.
The victim told police Sisler put duct tape over his mouth from ear to ear during class and wrapped his wrists in duct tape.
The Preston County Board of Education has not commented but an investigation into the allegations is underway.
West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee acknowledged that Sisler is a member of the WVEA leadership team for the Preston County chapter in a statement to MetroNews.
“We don’t discuss personnel matters with the press, but the one thing I will say is that we will support our members and provide their guidance as they need it,” Lee said. “And we live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty, so we’ll see how this plays out.”
Sisler was arraigned Friday on four counts of child abuse and released on $40,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing on Oct. 23.