Judge clears Hillbrook's headmistress of charges
By Nathan R. Huff
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge found Hillbrook Headmistress Sarah Bayne not guilty of any wrongdoing, in connection with an alleged case of child abuse, ending a yearlong saga that began with Bayne's arrest in November 1999.
Bayne was declared not guilty of both misdemeanors against her-- failing to report a suspected case of child abuse and obstructing an officer in his investigation. The judge made the ruling after both the prosecution and the defense agreed to forgo a jury trial and let the judge rule, based on police reports.
According to Deputy District Attorney Charlotte Chang, the judge ruled that the incident in question did not constitute child abuse, hence Bayne had no duty to report it.
"He put it in the category of 'the parent had a right to discipline the child,' so that's why he felt ultimately she did not have a duty to report it because there was nothing to report," Chang said.
According to police, the investigation began after a teacher reported to Bayne that a child in her class had red finger marks on his face. The teacher also contacted police, who were unable to find any evidence that Bayne reported the incident, which she is required to do by state law.
Bayne maintained that she followed school policy, meeting with the parents and placing an anonymous call to Child Protective Services in San Francisco. Bayne said the agency told her it was not a case that would normally be reported, something CPS officials denied.
Hillbrook's board of directors had stood by Bayne through the ordeal, and Bayne's attorney, James McManis, has said the prosecution of the case was disgraceful. Three people in the district attorney's office have or had children at Hillbrook, though Chang has no connection.
McManis said he could not comment on the case.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
