Former Ohio high school employee accused of taping student to chair pleads not guilty

BATAVIA, Ohio (WKRC) — A former Ohio high school employee accused of taping a student to a chair pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.

Allison Vestring is charged with unlawful restraint. Her former co-worker, Rachel Smith, faces the same charge and will appear in court next month. The charge is a misdemeanor.

The father of the student who was taped told WKRC the 15-year-old boy has Down syndrome. He has the intellect of a pre-schooler and is not very verbal.

According to the boy's father, the teacher and teacher's aide taped his son's hands to his desk on March 1. They then asked him to stand up and recorded the incident. The student asked them to stop, according to court papers.

They got in trouble the following Monday after they allegedly showed the video to other faculty members. Vestring and Smith are no longer employed by West Clermont High School.

Vestring was released on her own recognizance and did not have to post bond. She was ordered not to have any contact with the student or his family.