Woman charged with choking, hitting child

Waukesha - A special education aid at a Waukesha elementary school was charged Wednesday with abusing a child. The woman allegedly whipped a boy with a cord, choked and punched him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

Sharon Walker, 40, was charged with felony counts of physical abuse of a child and child abandonment. At the time of the alleged incidents Walker was employed as a special education aid at Banting Elementary School.

According to the criminal complaint, a 14-year-old boy told police Nov. 10, 2011, that Walker, his legal guardian, had "whipped him with cords, choked him, punched him, thrown him down the stairs, hit him with poles," the complaint said. Also the boy alleged Walker threatened "to stab him and the rest of his family with a knife," the complaint.

The boy said the last time he was hit by a cord was when he was about 12 or 13 years old. Walker tried to hit him, but missed and scratched his nose causing it to bleed. The boy grabbed Walker's wrists and the boy said Walker allegedly bit his arm, the complaint said. A physical exam revealed several "linear and curvilinear scar" on his body, the complaint said. The scars are consistent with getting hit by a belt or a cord, the complaint said.

On early Oct. 25, the boy said Walker took him to his biological mother's residence in Chicago but she said the boy could not stay with her but Walker left and drove off, the complaint said.

The mother threw the boy out of the house and the boy went across the street to the police station.

Chicago police verified the boy's story. The boy eventually stayed at an aunt's house in Chicago until the boy returned to Walker's residence on Oct 30. Chicago police created a report regarding child endangerment, the complaint said.

Walker appeared in court Feb. 16 and was ordered not to have any contact with children under 18-years-old, but she may remain employed with the school district. Walker was released on a $10,000 signature bond.