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11 August 2010

by Dave Keiser

Union, MO (KSDK)–  Jurors in Franklin County deliberated for an hour Tuesday before returning not guilty verdicts in the assault case against an employee of the Autumn Hills State School near Union.

Fifty-three year-old Robert Hunter of St Louis was acquitted on two counts of assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child in connection to the alleged attacks on an autistic student at the school in September 2009.

Prosecutors alleged Hunter assaulted the juvenile by forcibly holding the young girl’s thumbs and applying pressure with his own.  Officials say Hunter caused additional injuries to the girl by violently grabbing the back of the victims neck.

Hunter’s status at the state-operated facility, which specialized in caring for disabled children — many living with autism, is unclear. 

He was suspended when the case was filed last year.  An independent investigation by the State of Missouri was also conducted after allegations surfaced concerning Hunter’s treatment of the children.

Source:  http://www.ksdk.com/news/crime/story.aspx?storyid=211381&catid=147