MANSFIELD, PA – On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, a teacher’s aide’s case was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas. The teacher’s aide is presently facing a single charge of endangering the welfare of children after an incident with a young student back in late February of this year.
Court records show that a criminal complaint was filed against 39-year-old Jennifer Ann Bitner of Columbia Cross Roads, back on Thursday, August 13, 2026, although the actual incident occurred at the Warren L. Miller Elementary School, back on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
According to records, on Monday, March 2, 2026, a Mansfield Borough Police Officer met with the father and stepmother of a 6-year-old male child who attends the local elementary school in Mansfield, PA.
The parents claimed that on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Bitner, a paraprofessional (teacher’s Aide) at the school, made the young autistic and nonverbal student eat an apple and she covered his mouth, which caused him to vomit. Two teachers at the school also filed Childline reports on March 3rd about the incident.
It was said that the school’s administration had provided the child’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) that stated the boy could feed himself and the administration even provided a video showing Bitner holding her hand over the youngster’s mouth for approximately 20 seconds until the student threw up.
It was noted that on Monday, March 16, 2026, Jennifer Bitner said that she did place a piece of apple in the child’s mouth and placed her hand over his mouth.
Bitner’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 9, 2026, in front of Magisterial District Judge
Tiffany Cummings. Also on that day, Bitner’s unsecured bail was set at $5,000.
The case was noted as being transferred to the Court of Common Pleas on September 15, 2026.
A formal arraignment has been scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Main Courtroom. This will be the time Bitner enters a plea to the 1st degree misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of children.
Court Record Link – https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/MdjDocketSheet?docketNumber=MJ-04303-CR-0000097-2026&dnh=3jwNmOwNVUpoax%2FhSUApiQ%3D%3D .
Court Record Link #2 – https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/CpDocketSheet?docketNumber=CP-59-CR-0000232-2026&dnh=tcPipEGHg1fiAOLs5maBlQ%3D%3D .
