Two Oklahoma Elementary School Workers Arrested After Assault Allegations Involving Students

Two Oklahoma Elementary School Workers Arrested After Assault Allegations Involving Students Two staff members at an Elgin Elementary School in Oklahoma have been charged with assault and battery following separate incidents in which young students were allegedly mistreated on school grounds, authorities said.

Local prosecutors in Comanche County District Court charged Elizabeth Kay Sutton, 38, and Ottoria McClung, 37, with assault and battery upon students under Oklahoma law after incidents reportedly captured on school security cameras. Both women worked as support staff at Elgin Elementary.

• In January, Sutton, a teacher’s aide, allegedly grabbed a 10‑year‑old boy, forced him into his seat, and struck him in the face. Security footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Sutton swinging her arm toward the student’s face.
• Sutton later told police that she used a hold she had been taught in training and did not intend harm, but she was nevertheless arrested after the incident. She pleaded not guilty and was terminated from her position.
• McClung, a personal care assistant, is accused of holding a five‑year‑old student in a chokehold while walking down a school hallway. Witnesses reported seeing the child crying with reddened skin and McClung expressing frustration.
• McClung was also fired following her arrest and is due to appear in court on May 20 along with Sutton.

Elgin Public Schools Superintendent Nate Meraz said the district’s top priority is student safety. In a statement, he reaffirmed that all employees undergo background checks and ongoing training, and that the incidents were reported by fellow staff members, reflecting a culture of internal accountability.

Meraz added that training sessions were conducted at various points throughout the school year and that the district will continue to improve staff oversight and support systems to safeguard pupils. Both Sutton and McClung are scheduled to appear before a judge in Comanche County District Court on May 20, where prosecutors will begin presenting evidence in their assault cases. Parents and community members have expressed concern over the allegations, calling for stringent measures to protect children in school environments.

Nationwide, incidents involving alleged abuse of students by school personnel tend to provoke strong public reactions and prompt reviews of hiring, training, and supervision practices within school districts. Investigations often involve multiple agencies, including local law enforcement and child protection services, to ensure accountability and student welfare.