Principal resigns over child abuse charge

NEW PORT RICHEY - A Pasco County charter school principal resigned last week after school officials questioned a criminal charge that appeared during school employee fingerprinting, according a district official.

Paula Navarrete, 37, stepped down from her post at Richard Milburn Academy Charter School after mandatory background checks returned a child abuse charge against her from July. Prosecutors have since downgraded the charge to misdemeanor battery.

Navarrete had been employed with the publicly funded, privately run school since the summer.

Anita Mullens, supervisor of human resources for Pasco County Schools, said an official from Richard Milburn told her Oct. 10 that Navarrete resigned. Elvia Walker, regional director for the school, could not be reached Friday to confirm.

Navarrete was arrested July 5 after an 11-year-old neighbor girl complained that Navarrete pulled her arm while she was riding a bicycle, according to court records. The girl also said Navarrete gave her a bear hug and kissed her on her head, according to an incident report.

A trial originally set for Oct. 15 was delayed this week, pending the outcome of a Nov. 13 hearing.

Neither Navarrete nor her attorney, H. Alexander Truluck, could be reached for comment.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright