ORANGE, Calif. – An Orange County special-education teacher is on paid administrative leave while officials investigate allegations he grabbed disabled students by the back of the neck, sat on students who are unable to speak, and teased and punched them.
The Orange County Register says Daniel Ryan Lentini, who teaches first through third grades at Taft Elementary School in Orange, was removed from his classroom twice this year after two aides complained about his behavior.
About 30 angry parents, family and friends confronted him on campus.
The Register says there are 30 specific complaints against Lentini, including an allegation that he lay on a child with his full body weight, and stood with both feet planted firmly on the student's back.
Lentini declined to comment Friday. But a parent videotaped him during the March 5 confrontation denying he had abused anyone.
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