Former ‘Kids Count’ behavioral technician sentenced to probation after vomit incident at Brownsburg elementary school

BROWNSBURG, Ind. — A former “Kids Count” behavioral technician has been sentenced to probation.

According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, Meghan King pleaded guilty to one count of failure to make a report — a misdemeanor — on Aug. 15. As part of the plea deal, King will be on probation for 180 days.

Previous reporting indicates King was implicated in an incident that took place in the cafeteria at Brown Elementary School in Brownsburg in February 2023. During the alleged incident, Sara Seymour, a life skills teacher, told a 7-year-old he would have to eat whatever he threw up if he vomited.

The student later puked on a tray provided by another staff member — Julie Taylor. A third staffer, Debra Kanipe, then gave the child a spoon. The 7-year-old then ate a portion of the throw-up and paper towels were used to clean up the rest.

In total, six school officials were believed to have been involved in or seen the incident.

According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, Taylor, Kanipe and Seymour’s cases have yet to be resolved. Kanipe and Seymour — who have both been charged with neglect of a dependent — have jury trials slated for October and February, respectively.

Taylor is scheduled to appear at a change of plea hearing on Oct. 22.

King and Kristen Mitchell were charged with failure to report. A bench trial in Mitchell’s case is scheduled to begin on Oct. 7.

Another unnamed staffer is also believed to have witnessed the incident. It’s unclear if that individual has been formally charged.

King spoke in court on Aug. 12. That day, her lawyer said she was worried she might have faced retribution if she had reported the incident.

King’s lawyer claimed the 26-year-old had tried to report an incident at a previous location in the past and faced pushback for doing so. That experience, the lawyer claimed, influenced her decision-making during the alleged vomit incident in Brownsburg.

“I did not mean for this to happen,” King said during her day in court on Aug. 12. “I did not mean to cause any harm. I was scared. I am scared now … I did not mean to harm. I am not a bad person.”

“When I reported something, I was treated poorly.”

The mother of the child who was allegedly forced to eat vomit last February provided the court with a victim impact statement on Aug. 12.

“I write as a mother whose trust was shattered and whose child endured unspeakable harm,” the statement read in part. “My heart aches not only for my child, but also for the children everywhere whose suffering could have been prevented if only actions had been taken sooner by those who see abuse and fail to report it.

The statement also alleged that King “robbed” the child and mother of their safety and peace of mind

“While I believe in forgiveness and empathy, I also believe in accountability,” the statement read. “Not reporting abuse is not merely a mistake; it is a conscious decision with grave consequences. It perpetuates a culture where abusers thrive and victims suffer in silence. We cannot afford to overlook the responsibility each of us holds to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

The victim impact statement concluded with a plea to the judge, asking the court to impose a sentence that “reflects the gravity of the defendant’s inaction and sends a clear message that the duty to protect children is non-negotiable.”

The Brownsburg School Corporation fired three staffers after the alleged vomit incident. A fourth staff member later resigned.

King could not be disciplined by the school district at the time because she was employed by “Kids Count,” not the Brownsburg School Corporation.

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