Principal Found Guilty After Failing To Report Abuse

San Jose, CA – A California principal was found guilty after a jury decided she was negligent in reporting a case of child abuse, according to FOX News.

Lyn Vijayendran will now face two years of probation, $602 in fines, and 100 hours of community service for failing to address an incident involving a teacher and a student. The 36-year-old former principal of O.B. Whaley Elementary has since been reassigned as a coordinator of teacher support programs.

Santa Clara County Judge Deborah Ryan stated that she agreed with the jury’s verdict.

“You did what you thought was right, but I don’t think it was objectively reasonable at the time,” the judge explained. “I know it will have far-reaching consequences for your career. I do think you made a very bad judgment that day.”

According to the Mercury News, the incident took place in October of 2011. The victim’s mother was made aware of the abuse when she discovered an unsual white stain on her daughter’s jacket.

The girl explained that her teacher summoned her to the classroom when no one was around and made her lie down on the ground. After touching the student on her bare feet, the teacher then inserted something into her mouth. The girl was reportedly blind-folded the entire time.

Instead of reporting the incident to authorities, Vijayendran decided to interview the teacher. The educator claimed the alleged abuse was nothing more than a lesson about Helen Keller. Satisfied with the excuse, the principal did not move forward with the investigation or alert police. The teacher was later charged with performing sex acts on at least five children.

“She stuck her head in the sand rather than pull the alarm,” one juror said. “I think she didn’t want this ugly thing to be true.”

Do you think the principal who was found guilty of failing to report child abuse should be allowed to work in the school system?