Former Poudre School District Paraprofessional Charged with 164 Counts of Child Abuse and Assault

child abuse school disability charges

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Jan 31, 02:53 am

Photo: (Photo : China Photos/Getty Images)

A former paraprofessional in Larimer County, Colorado, from the Poudre School District entered a guilty plea on Monday, admitting to fewer than a dozen charges out of the initial 164 he faced related to child abuse.

Tyler Zanella, 37, was arrested in May 2023 for allegedly physically abusing a kindergartner with disabilities on multiple occasions, as revealed by surveillance videos.

The charges included crimes against an at-risk juvenile, third-degree assault, and child abuse. I n the plea deal, Zanella pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including seven counts of assault in the third degree against an at-risk person, two counts of harassment, and two counts of child abuse.

Zanella, who worked on a bus route primarily serving children with disabilities, was caught on surveillance hitting a non-verbal 6-year-old with autism.

Other recorded instances showed him striking children multiple times, using backpacks to hit them in the face. Parents contacted investigators after their children exhibited fear and trauma, leading to Zanella's arrest in May 2023.

All 11 identified victims were at-risk due to their disabilities. The Poudre School District hired Zanella in August 2022, terminating his employment on May 24, 2023.

Zanella Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse Charges

Parents of the 11 affected children had mixed reactions to the plea deal. Some supported it, expressing a desire to avoid a trial and start the healing process, while others opposed it, seeking the maximum sentence for Zanella.

Daisy Montgomery, a parent with autism, acknowledged the anger inflicted on the families but emphasized that justice for the children was essential.

Another parent, Sabrina Herrick, opposed the plea deal, recounting a disturbing interaction between Zanella and her daughter.

Zanella's sentencing is scheduled for April 12, with Judge Daniel McDonald awaiting a Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) and a community corrections screening for review. The judge will decide whether to accept or reject the plea, determining the case's progression.

Zanella's potential punishment, which could exceed a decade in prison, hinges on various factors and the judge's decision.

Zanella had a prior arrest for child abuse in 2012, resulting in a dismissed case after pleading guilty to child abuse - negligence - no injury.

Investigation Reveals Paraprofessional's Abuse

Tyler Zanella, was arrested by Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) on May 24, 2023 facing charges including felony crimes against at-risk juveniles, misdemeanor third-degree assault, and misdemeanor child abuse.

According to PSD spokeswoman Emily Shockley, Zanella underwent a thorough background check before his hiring in August 2022, where employers in Colorado typically look back seven years into an applicant's arrest record.

Although Zanella was questioned about his 2012 child abuse case during the hiring process, the details of that case, including his guilty plea for child abuse, were not immediately available.

On Tuesday, an "inappropriate comment" from Zanella to a student prompted a review of bus route 2235's video footage. The investigation revealed Zanella striking a student on the bus, leading to his immediate placement on paid administrative leave.

He did not participate in the afternoon route on Tuesday and was formally terminated the following day, rendering him ineligible for future employment with the district.

Further video analysis showed additional incidents involving the same student on April 25 and May 19, 2023.

The May 19 footage captured Zanella hitting a nonverbal, autistic student in the back of the head.

On May 22, 2023, Zanella was seen hitting one student multiple times and another student in the head with his fist.

Shockley confirmed at least two victims but acknowledged the possibility of more.

Video evidence depicted Zanella repeatedly hitting a student on May 24, 2023 with marks on the child's face visible in a photo taken on April 25.

In response to the arrest, PSD Superintendent Brian Kingsley strongly condemned Zanella's alleged actions, emphasizing that they go against the values the school stands for.