Teacher's Helper Accused of Abusing Student

A 31-year-old man faces abuse charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he abused a student in his care.

According to the agency, Fivay High School instructional assistant Alvaro Muente was arrested Thursday after a scuffle with an autistic student.

“(Muente) admitted he became frustrated with a student, grabbed him with both hands and pushed him approximately 10 feet into a room,” the agency wrote in an email to media.

The force of that push caused the student to hit a wall and fall to the floor, the email said.

“Muente initially claimed he guided the student into the room, but later admitted to being frustrated and using too much force,” the email added.

Two teachers witnessed the incident, an arrest report noted. The student was not injured, but Muente now faces a charge for abuse of an infirm, elderly or disabled adult. He was being held in the Land O’ Lakes Jail Friday in lieu of $1,000 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office