Wakefield, MA Criminal Defense Attorney

Salem Mom Accused of Hitting Girl on Bus

When a local mother was concerned about her young child being mistreated at school she did something she now regrets, but she also did something very smart. According to the Salem Evening News, Dominique Hans told reporters before her court appearance yesterday that she "touched her chin and turned her head and told her 'I do not want you to hit him again,'" after the girl started crying and looking out the window when approached. Hans insisted she never hit the girl.The smart thing that did was Ms. Han did was give her own version of facts to the media that came directly from her. When you hear her version of events appears to involve a lapse in judgment, a lot of passion and emotion—yet in the end, according to Ms. Hans simply touched the girls chin.

Hans said the little girl had hit her 6-year-old son earlier in the week, leaving a scratch on his face, and said school officials failed to follow up on her complaint. Often criminal defense lawyers will tell their client to say nothing and it is always the correct advice---unless it is a unique situation. Clearly, Ms. Hans cannot say she wasn’t on the bus---since she was. But when there is a lot of media attention to something that was something that wasn’t---a statement like hers can take the steam out of the interest in the story.  Also, nowhere does it mention that Ms. Hans has any prior criminal offenses of any kind. Often in cases like these if the defendant has criminal history it would be mentioned since the prosecution would use it to request the higher bail request. In this case, there is no mention of it.Hans said the little girl had hit her 6-year-old son earlier in the week, leaving a scratch on his face, and said school officials failed to follow up on her complaint. A police report paints a very different picture, however, of a "crazed and determined" mother marching onto a school bus, screaming at the driver, and then yelling at and slapping the kindergartner.

"Hans charged the girl and began hitting her in the head and face," police said in an incident report, "all the meanwhile yelling and screaming at the little girl to never touch her son again."he little girl was "very upset," police said, but did not suffer any physical injuries.The school transportation supervisor, Alan Leclair, told police that Hans called him after the incident and admitted that "she took matters into her own hands and boarded the bus this morning and slapped the kid who hit her son." Leclair said Hans "sounded wild" and told police he "could not get a word in."The mother of the girl who was allegedly struck by Hans also left court without commenting. School officials are conducting their own investigation into both the incident Thursday and Hans' allegation that her own son was bullied earlier in the week, Salem Superintendent Stephen Russell said. Hans said she was frustrated and angry over what she perceived as a lack of action from the school bus driver and the school.She said her son was born prematurely and is smaller than other children in his class. She said she told the girl, "When you hit him, you hurt him more than you think. "Hans acknowledged that the girl's mother is angry, "but there's another side of the story. While she's upset, she needs to know I am.

If you are facing charges for criminal domestic violence, violating a restraining order, or are currently under investigation, contact criminal defense attorney William Barabino by calling his Wakefield, Massachusetts, law office at 781-245-5900. You may also complete his online contact form. Mr. Barabino serves Wakefield, Lynnfield, Melrose, Boston, Salem and towns all along the North Shore.