A Florida woman is accused of helping her children attack a 10-year-old boy after she stopped the child for allegedly calling him a “fat ass” in a neighborhood park.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a news release that Ketsy Ann Rivera he was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse without great bodily injury and false imprisonment.
Deputies responded to the Heritage Park Apartment Complex on Monday, March 16, after receiving a report of a disturbance involving multiple children in a community park. Witnesses and the child who was attacked told authorities that a fight broke out between a group of children while they were playing together.
The situation became very tense when some of the children left the area and returned with their mothers, and the adults quickly joined the ranks.
Authorities say Rivera, 41, “pushed her children (ages 8 and 9) toward the 10-year-old victim and ordered them to hit the child,” according to a news release. “Ketsy Rivera then grabbed the victim by his shirt, preventing him from getting out or defending himself.”
More details about the incident were revealed in court documents seen by WFTV.
Authorities said that shortly after the three children had the initial argument, the two younger children brought Rivera to the playground. The 10-year-old boy is reported to have called Rivera a “fat ass” during the incident, in which he is alleged to have been involved.
“He was actually stopping him when he couldn’t defend himself from the other two boys who came to him or ran away from the situation. It was three against one,” said the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Captain. Kim Montes he told the station. “It’s her job as a mother to come in and try to defuse this, not escalate it. That’s exactly what she did here. She took it to another level.”
Deputies said the 10-year-old child was visibly injured following the attack, and responding officers said there was “significant swelling in his left eye.” Fire department first responders re-examined the child and determined that the child was cleared of any serious medical problems despite his injuries.
When the child’s mother arrived at the scene, she requested that the charges against Rivera be continued.
The authorities did not cooperate when other people involved in the first dispute were charged.
After the incident, Rivera was booked into the Osceola County Jail. He was released after posting a $12,000 bond.
It is not clear at this time whether he has retained a lawyer or submitted his application. Additionally, authorities have not set a date for his first court appearance.
