Guam – A Guam Department of Education para-educator has been arrested by authorities for child abuse and official misconduct.
Guam Police Department Spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao said 66-year old John Holi III was seen by a fellow employee abusing a student at a Yigo elementary school.
The abuse was reported to school officials on April 29 and then reported to GPD.
According to the court complaint, Holi, who works as a school aide, pulled the minor victim’s hair to get the child into line at lunch.
While the child was already standing in line, Holi grabbed the child’s right shoulder causing him to cry exuberantly.
Police said he continued to pull the child’s hair at least three times while the child stood in line.
A witness told police that Holi told the victim, “Do you wait for me to hit you before you listen?” The witness also reported that Holi had a small wooden block in his hand while allegedly verbally threatening the child.
The victim and the victim’s sister both corroborated the statements the witness made to police. On Tuesday, Holi was arrested for child abuse, assault, and official misconduct. However he was only charged with child abuse as a misdemeanor.
