It’s been nearly a year since the mother of a 2-year-old attacked a day care teacher, but the criminal case hasn’t progressed in Columbia County Superior Court.
Kasey M. Brooks is charged with misdemeanor battery for the Aug. 31, 2021 attack on June Barrow at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church where Brooks’ son was enrolled in the Mothers Day Out program.
Brooks has been free on bond on the condition neither she or anyone acting on her behalf contact Barrow or any member of her family.
Not long after the incident, Barrow filed a civil lawsuit against Brooks in Columbia County Superior Court seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Brooks enrolled her son in the church program in the fall of 2021. According to the civil lawsuit, from the beginning the child displayed violent behavior, kicking and otherwise physically hurting other children and Barrow. Brooks was told of the child’s behavior and warned if it continued, he would be expelled. Barrow and Brooks met at the church on Aug. 31 and Brooks demanded to meet with other program staff and to see video from her son’s classroom, the lawsuit continues.
After meeting with other program staff and seeing a video, Brooks asked to meet again with Barrow and they went into an empty classroom. According to the lawsuit, Brooks attacked Barrow from behind, hitting her, even biting her, screaming and cursing. Another adult pulled Brooks off the older woman who had to be taken by ambulance for medical treatment, according to the lawsuit.
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In answer to the lawsuit, Brooks’ attorney contends there was no act by Brooks that she could be held liable for. Barrow also held contributory negligence, according to the answer.
In her Go Fund Me page, in which people had donated $44,000 to her, she alleges the video she saw showed Barrow repeatedly abusing her son.
But two different judges who viewed video of Barrow’s interaction with Brooks’ son didn’t believe it raise probable cause to issue any criminal warrant against Barrow, according to earlier reports in The Augusta Press.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
