What to Know
- Brevard County Sheriff’s officials say Simmone James confronted the girls Monday while walking her child to her elementary school in Cocoa.
A Central Florida mother is behind bars after police say she threw cayenne pepper powder in the faces of two girls who were allegedly bullying her daughter.
Simmone James was charged with two counts each of child abuse and battery, according to NBC affiliate WESH-TV.
Brevard County Sheriff’s officials say the 46-year-old James confronted the girls Monday while walking her child to her elementary school in Cocoa. Officers say she threw the powder mixture, including salt, in their faces.
James' husband said the parents were tired of bullying the claim has been going on for months, saying they have spoken with the school and law enforcement but nothing changed.
"My daughter's scared to death," Larry Barkley said. "My wife got to walk her to school and I don't think its fair."
Both victims, ages 8 and 11 according to the station, were treated at the school’s clinic but taken to an area hospital as a precaution.
"Any mom is going to defend her child, but this is not the way to do it," Yvonne Martinez from the Cocoa Police Department said. "You don't resort to violence to deal with it."
