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Twenty former staff members of Chester Community Charter School now face charges in what authorities are calling a sweeping abuse scandal that left more than two dozen students — some as young as 5 — traumatized.
“This case is every parent’s nightmare,” Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a statement. “We send our children to school expecting the adults will keep them safe, not abuse them physically and emotionally.”
The abuse happened inside the school’s Team Approach to Achieving Academic Success (TAAS) program — an emotional support program meant to help K-5 students.
Instead, investigators say, children were “punished” with painful “holds,” including pressure point pinches to the neck, being restrained with their arms crossed and a knee in their back, and a disturbing tactic the kids called “shoulder work.”
Police say nine staffers physically abused students while 11 others stood by and failed to report it, despite being mandated reporters under Pennsylvania law.
“Some staffers physically abused children while others sat passively and watched,” Stollsteimer said. “All the adults charged are equally guilty in failing to protect these children.”
The abuse allegedly occurred in 2024 but wasn’t uncovered until January 2025, when two students told their parents they were afraid to return to school.
The parents filed complaints, launching a months-long investigation by Chester Township Police and the DA’s Office.
Investigators say several of the accused were employed by a staffing company called Peak Performers Staffing, LLC. Its founders, Jennifer Woodhouse and Emmanuel Gilbert, allegedly claimed their staff had proper restraint and crisis prevention training — but investigators say not a single one had up-to-date certifications.
In fact, the school reported zero “safety holds” for the year, despite many being caught on surveillance cameras, police said.
“This was a toxic and abusive environment for children enrolled in the emotional support program,” said Chester Township Police Chief Kenneth Coalson. “Today we are holding the support staff, teachers, and even a Dean of Students accountable.”
The following nine people face charges including conspiracy, simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, and failure to report:
- Raymond Harris;
- Kabree Daniels;
- Christian Denny;
- Martin Mincey, Jr;.
- Harry Woodhouse, Jr.;
- Amaru Mohammed;
- Leroy Campbell;
- Adrian Hospedale;
- Monica Griffin.
Eleven others face charges of failing to report child endangerment:
- Daemon Pierce;
- Don’Neisah King Pierce;
- Arijah Clements;
- Cyrus Barlee;
- Neanne Edmonds;
- Breshonna Belgrave;
- Deja Bennett-Allen;
- Ryan Ridley;
- Maggie Moloney;
- Dahkeem Williams;
- Asia Pena.
As of Monday, none of the defendants were in custody, though several had made arrangements to turn themselves in, officials said.
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