A former Crotched Mountain employee has been found not guilty of assaulting a minor at the school, according to court officials.
Jessica Burt, 39, of Hillsborough, was found not guilty of three counts of simple assault during a three-day jury trial. Burt was facing two additional counts of simple assault and a charge of violation of privacy, but they were dismissed by the state on April 4, according to defense attorney Ted Lothstein.
“The state proceeded to trial, and the jury found that Jessica Burt was innocent of all charges,” said Lothstein, in a press release. “At this time, no criminal charges remain pending against any of the educators accused of misconduct by the Greenfield Police Department and the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office.”
Lothstein said deliberations lasted less than one hour. The trial began on Monday. Lothstein said he and Burt are “relieved and gratified by the quick verdict.”
Burt was charged in regards to a situation that occurred at Crotched Mountain in May 2014. Burt was accused of assaulting a student, identified in court records as J.G., by pinching his nose on multiple occasions.
Liz LaRose, director of marketing and communications for the Crotched Mountain Foundation, released a statement on behalf of Crotched Mountain late Wednesday afternoon, saying that Crotched Mountain is ‘pleased that the case has been concluded.”
“Crotched Mountain School has always made the health and well-being of every student our priority,” read the statement.
“We continue to train everyone on their responsibilities to report suspected abuse and protect privacy. Our staff is highly skilled in providing the education, therapies and life skills that help students learn and grow. We are proud of our mission, our history and the very positive influence our work has had – and continues to have – on the lives of students with the highest needs.
Messages left for prosecuting attorney Brett Harpster, were not returned by press time.
Bethany L. Smith, 38, of Bennington, and Heather Murawske, of Peterborough were also facing charges for alleged acts of abuse against former Crotched students, but both cases have been resolved.
Smith was facing three charges of simple assault, and charges of violation of privacy and criminal threatening, but all charges were not carried forward earlier this year.
Murawske pleaded guilty in September 2014 to one count of violation of privacy, for allegedly photographing a student in the bathroom and sending it to another aide via a cellphone. Murawske was fined $310.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.