Newly released surveillance footage from inside Little Wolf Junior/Senior High School in Manawa is showing what some say is a teacher abusing a student with special needs,
44-year-old David Bessette is now facing one count of Causing Mental Harm to a Child, and one count of Child Abuse. Both are felonies.
According to the criminal complaint, in February, Bessette allegedly dragged a 13-year-old student with autism by his arm, legs, and even doused him with water, which caused the student to take his clothes off.
14 minutes of security footage capture the ordeal, and the criminal complaint is giving it context, tonight.
In the complaint, the head of the special education department at Little Wolf High School says "you can see the student being pulled across the floor by Mr. Bessette... touching the student's head and face... and yanking the student back."
Faculty say the student has autism, is "non-verbal," "loves to learn," is "at a first grade level," and struggles with Bessette.
But what upsets so many is the moment when Bessette is seen allegedly pouring water on the student.
Staff say "everyone is aware" that wet clothing irritates the student, who "has to change" his clothes if "any little drop" of water touches them.
The student then strips naked, which staff say "was not" his fault.
"My oldest son's in high school up there," says Mike Reeck, of Manawa, who remembers hearing about the incident back in February.
Reeck says he'd like to know more about what he's hearing tonight, and doesn't want to jump to conclusions.
"If he was mistreated, we need to look into it, and fix the problem if there's a problem," adds Reeck.
"Well, I'm shocked that it happened," says Joyce Bussian, "and it's just sad."
Other staff say in the complaint they've heard Bessette say to students he should "hit them beside the head," though they add he's never followed through that they know of.
One faculty member even admits she "wouldn't trust him with her child."
Bessette was fired from his job in February.
We reached out with calls and e-mails to both the mother of the student, and the district administrator, but our attempts were not returned by news time.
Bessette's initial appearance in court is set for June 21st.
