A Nebraska school superintendent is facing felony charges following an incident involving a student and a cowboy hat. The Maywood School District placed Mark Bejot on administrative leave after he was charged with child abuse in connection to an October 1 altercation in the school’s commons area.
According to the Frontier County Sheriff, video footage suggests that Bejot physically pulled the student from a stool while trying to retrieve the hat, despite his assertion that the boy fell accidentally. The incident came to light after the student’s mother reported it to the sheriff’s office.
Bejot has since posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled for a court hearing in November. Current court records do not indicate whether he has secured legal representation.
The sheriff noted discrepancies between Bejot’s account and the family’s portrayal of the event, stating that upon reviewing the surveillance footage, he felt compelled to escalate the matter to the Nebraska Attorney General for further evaluation. Following their review, prosecutors opted to file charges against Bejot.
Attempts to contact Bejot for comment were unsuccessful as his listed phone number was inoperative, and he did not respond to email inquiries.
Bejot described the scenario, claiming the student first refused to remove the hat and later positioned it beyond reach. He stated that while reaching for the hat, he made attempts to prevent the boy from falling. However, the surveillance video reportedly documents Bejot lunging for the hat, affecting the boy’s balance and leading him to threaten Bejot before leaving to call his father.
In discussing the video with Bejot, the sheriff indicated that it raised significant concerns about his actions. “I did not hurt that kid,” Bejot reportedly stated, but the sheriff emphasized that the video told a troubling story without additional context.
The Maywood School Board confirmed Bejot’s administrative leave but refrained from providing further details due to the personnel nature of the case. They reiterated their commitment to maintaining a safe educational environment for all students.
