A Colorado school bus aide has been sentenced to 4½ years in prison after video showed her attacking at least three nonverbal students with autism, causing a knocked-out tooth and fractured bones.
Kiarra Jones, 30, pleaded guilty in January to 10 counts of third-degree felony assault of an at-risk child and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse. During Friday’s hearing, Judge Laqunya Baker described the footage as “gut-wrenching” and said prison time was appropriate.
One victim’s father, Kevin Yarbrough, spoke in court, calling himself “a voice for my son who cannot speak for himself” after being harmed by someone entrusted to care for him.
Jones worked for Littleton Schools, supervising students on buses to The Joshua School, which serves children with autism. The investigation began in 2024 when a student returned home with bruises. Review of surveillance footage revealed repeated assaults, leading to Jones’ arrest in April 2024.
The victims’ parents later held a press conference, revealing their children endured fractured bones, deep bruises, and a knocked-out tooth.
