DE SOTO, Mo. — A teacher accused of abusing a child with autism at a De Soto school in 2024 now faces criminal charges.

The charges were issued against Alyssa Tripp on Friday by the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, court records show.

Records show she faces a single count of first-degree child endangerment, a class D felony.

Speaking with investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in May, the victim’s mother said the victim was a child with autism and a condition that makes him non-verbal.

“The victim’s mother advised she was notified by school administration that her son may have been abused while at school,” a sheriff’s deputy wrote in May. “The witness stated this was not an everyday occurrence, but this did happen multiple times between January and April of 2024.”

The witness told investigators that they saw Tripp use a water bottle to spray the victim multiple times and physically pin the victim’s fingers to a table while he was reaching for a tablet that he used to communicate with others.

“[Tripp] proceeded to slap the victim’s hands with a file folder while he was trying to get string during a working session,” the witness told investigators. “During this session, the victim was attempting to get up from the table, and [Tripp] physically stood on the victim’s feet in an attempt to keep him in place.”

Tripp also kicked a yoga ball at the victim, hitting him in the chest, the witness said to investigators.

A criminal summons was issued to Tripp Friday. She is due in court for her initial appearance on March 24 in Hillsboro.

On Monday, 5 On Your Side reached out to multiple officials with the De Soto #73 School District to confirm Tripp’s employment, but officials didn’t respond until Tuesday morning.

According to the superintendent, Tripp began working for the school district as a substitute teacher in February 2018 before she was hired by De Soto #73 School District as a paraprofessional in August 2018. Three years later, in August of 2021, the school district hired her as a Special Education teacher.

She worked as a special education teacher in the school district until she was “separated from employment with the district June 30, 2024,” the superintendent said.

Public pay records show Tripp held a position at Vineland Elementary during the 2023-2024 school year.

“As a clarifying note, student safety is always our number one priority in the District,” the superintendent wrote. “Whenever we receive concerns about interactions between students and teachers, we begin an investigation immediately and place staff on administrative leave as necessary during the review process.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the District takes all appropriate measures to ensure the safe education of every student.”

5 On Your Side also contacted the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Monday morning, asking why the criminal charges weren’t issued sooner after investigators spoke with the witness in May. As of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the office had not responded.