Madison Police arrest second former teacher’s aide for willful torture, abuse of child

MADISON – Madison Police has arrested a second former teacher’s aide for child abuse. Theron Benjamin Rice, 28, was charged Monday with willful torture/abuse of child by caregiver or person in charge.

He was arrested on a warrant obtained by detectives after an investigation into allegations made earlier this month.

This charge was the result of information obtained from an unrelated investigation of the same nature in which Jamerson Lee Baker, 37, was charged with the same offense on April 25.

Madison City Schools have advised that the aide, was a contract employee through a staffing agency.

Rice was booked into the Limestone County Jail.

Tiffany Smith, a parent of special needs student in the Madison City School District, asked school board members how she and other parents can be assured their children are safe. In an emotional plea during the public comments portion of last night’s school board meeting, Smith said Rice had been the teacher’s aide for her child’s class. She said her son, who is a special needs student, is non-verbal and been alone at times with the suspect.

“I want to know why we can not get cameras in the classrooms if we can put them on buses,” Smith asked. “These children need to be protected and it’s disgusting that this happened in our school system. Now, I as well as other parents, have to wonder if our kids are safe.”

Smith also asked is anything was being done to reevaluate how the school district uses agencies to provide contract employees.

Superintendent Parker said the school district is taking a hard look at their procedures in light of the abuse allegations. “We are addressing everything that we do — in all parts of the schools, and certainly with the special education program,” Parker said.

Madison City Schools released the following statement about the arrest:

Madison City Schools Superintendent Robby Parker was made aware today of the arrest of Theron Benjamin Rice by the Madison Police Department.

Superintendent Parker confirmed that Rice was previously assigned to work as an aide at Madison City Schools through a contract with a staffing agency, but he clarified that Rice has not worked at any Madison City school since October 2018.

Superintendent Parker declined to specifically address the allegations against Rice in light of the sensitive nature of the investigation being conducted by local law enforcement. Madison City Schools is also conducting a thorough review.

Superintendent Parker reiterated to the school community that the safety and security of students remains the highest priority of Madison City Schools and that he will continue to work closely with administrators, school resource officers, and local law enforcement to maintain a safe learning environment for students.