Mark Bejot, Superintendent of Maywood Public School, is charged with felony child abuse for allegedly hurting a 12-year-old student while trying to retrieve a cowboy hat. Bejot denies intentionally hurting the student, however, he is scheduled to appear in Frontier County Court on November 1, 2024.
Frontier County Sheriff Michael Jordan was informed of the incident by the student's mother and is investigating the accusations. It is alleged that Mr Bejot confronted a boy for wearing a cowboy hat against school policy. He, then, tried to retrieve the hat from the boy by allegedly pulling him to the ground and holding him down to get the hat.
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According to Sheriff Jordan, Superintendent Bejot still maintains that he did not hurt the boy, while the boy, his family, and the surveillance footage say otherwise. After the Sheriff viewed the security footage, the case was sent for review with the Nebraska Attorney General who decided to charge him
On October 21, the Maywood Board of Education in their official statement informed the public that they have decided to place Mark Bejot on administrative leave. The board also says that,
"Placing an employee on administrative leave is not any determination of guilt or wrongdoing. Boards of education are extremely limited in the information they can share with the public about personnel matters, including matters involving the superintendent."
Details of the confrontation between Mark Bejot and the student
According to reports, the incident occurred on October 1, 2024, Mark Bejot, the superintendent of Maywood Public School asked a boy wearing a cowboy hat to hand over the hat as it is against school policy to wear them. The boy's family alleges that Mr Bejot threw the boy on the floor from a stool he was sitting on while trying to get the cowboy hat.
According to Mark Bejot, he asked the boy to remove the hat, and the boy, who initially refused to remove the hat, took it off and intentionally kept it out of the superintendent's reach. The boy fell when he tried to reach for his hat, despite his trying to ensure that the student did not fall. He also says that the boy threatened to hit him and then went out to call his dad.
Sheriff Jordan said that the camera visuals show Superintendent Bejot leaping for the hat after the boy took off his hat. It also appears that he hooked his hands under the boy's armpit, pulled him off the stool causing the boy to fall on the ground, pushed the boy's shoulder down, and pried the hat from his hands.
After viewing the video evidence the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office charged Mr Bejot with one count of child abuse not resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted this felony charge could land him in prison for up to three years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Mark Bejot posted his bond of $5,000 and remains free until his court hearing.
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