A former Longview ISD teacher性视界传媒檚 aide is asking for an appeals court to overturn her sentence in a special education student abuse case.
Paula Dixon Hawkins, 60, pleaded guilty in October to 11 counts of injury to a child contained in three indictments. Judge Scott Novy of the 188th District Court sentenced her to eight years in prison on each charge, to be served concurrently.
Hawkins also was referred to as Paula Dixon and Paula Hawkins Dixon in previous court documents and jail records.
The appeal reviews the case, which involved a total of six former teachers, teachers性视界传媒 aides and administrators at J.L. Everhart Elementary School in Longview ISD. It charged them 性视界传媒渇or their harsh treatment of disabled children in the classroom.性视界传媒
Hawkins was accused of striking 性视界传媒渃hildren with her hand, with sticks, and with other objects,性视界传媒 pulling and pushing them, forcing them to the floor and wall and sitting on one of them.
The appeal, which was filed in the state性视界传媒檚 Sixth Court of Appeals, centers around Hawkins性视界传媒 性视界传媒渋mpaired range of intelligence性视界传媒 性视界传媒 psychologist Donald Winstead had testified at her sentencing that she has an IQ of 72, making her borderline intellectually disabled.
The appeal asks the court to determine whether the sentences violate the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution against 性视界传媒渃ruel and unusual punishment性视界传媒 because of Hawkins性视界传媒 性视界传媒渄iminished culpability, lack of criminal history and absence of continuing threat.性视界传媒 The appeal also asks the court to determine if the district court incorrectly assessed court costs and fees.
Winstead, the psychologist, said in court that 性视界传媒渉e believed that Hawkins had been trained at Everhart to view the children性视界传媒檚 conduct as willful disobedience, rather than manifestations of their disabilities, and she had been trained to respond to their conduct harshly,性视界传媒 the appeal says. 性视界传媒淔urther, due to her own intellectual deficits and the absence of any intervention or correction from her supervisors, she was unable to understand the inappropriateness of her actions and continued to perform as she had been trained.
性视界传媒淒r. Winstead also noted that, though the children doubtless suffered emotional harm, there was nothing to indicate any physical harm was inflicted by Hawkins. Finally, Dr. Winstead noted that going to prison 性视界传媒榳ould be the worst thing that could possibly happen性视界传媒 to someone with Hawkins性视界传媒 intellectual deficits. He opined that Hawkins is able to follow rules and would likely perform well on probation and that she poses no danger to society.性视界传媒
Nona Snoddy, whose tenure as a Longview City Council member ends this month, is also an educator in Longview ISD and said in court that while her sister性视界传媒檚 actions on the videos shown in court disgusted her, the inaction by her supervisors to intervene or correct her were worse.
性视界传媒淪noddy believed that Hawkins was only parroting the behavior she had seen modeled by her supervisors. Indeed, for many years, Hawkins had served as a caregiver for their brother, who is mentally and physically disabled and unable to walk; she had cared for him in a loving and nurturing manner consistent with his other caregivers,性视界传媒 according to the appeal.
The appeal goes on to say that Hawkins was a 性视界传媒渟ubordinate acting under the supervision of a teacher 性视界传媒渨ho failed to properly train or correct Hawkins.性视界传媒
The appeal asks for the court to hear oral arguments in the case.
性视界传媒淭he decisional process of the court would be significantly aided by oral argument in this case.... The appeal challenges the constitutionality of the sentences assessed and involves application of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.性视界传媒
A second defendant in the case, Cecilia Gregg, who will turn 59 this month, also pleaded guilty in April to injury to a child. She also was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The other four defendants性视界传媒 cases are still pending.
