BRADENTON, Fla. – A teenager who accused a teacher’s aide of molesting her – prompting the girl’s father to march into the school and punch the man in the face – made it up, officials said.
School surveillance cameras show the aide was not even in the room when the 15-year-old said she was touched inappropriately, said Lakewood Ranch High School Superintendent Roger Dearing.
The sheriff’s department also found no evidence of wrongdoing, and the school board said the girl might have lied to get back at the man for disciplining her.
The girl’s father, Dave Swafford, was charged with battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide Tuesday in front of a class. A Tampa radio station named him “Father of the Year” and offered the family Daytona 500 race tickets.
Swafford, 42, is standing by his foster daughter. He said the girl’s friends told him they’d had similar experiences with the aide.
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