A former Lyon County School District substitute teacher is now facing criminal charges after allegedly grabbing two students by the neck and shaking them.
He has been identified as James Palu. He denies touching the children.
The mother of one of the victims, Darleen Capps, filed a report with the Lyon County Sheriff's Office on April 20, the day of the alleged crime. Since that day, she says her son has been suffering pain in his jaw, neck, and upper back, as well as blurred vision, dizziness, ringing in his ears, and a headache.
After taking him to urgent care and the emergency room, Capps' son was diagnosed with whiplash and a concussion.
"I would like to see change. I do want criminal charges brought against the man that assaulted my son. As far as the way that the office staff handled things, I don't feel like it was right. And I do feel like they were trying to minimize and sweep it under the rug," said Capps.
Capps said that when she was told about the incident over an hour later, the school had not contacted law enforcement, and she had to ask principal Blake Cooper directly whether her son had been one of the children Palu allegedly grabbed by the neck.
"When he [Cooper] called me, he just he was just dancing around it. He was like, 'Oh, this substitute had some interesting ideas about discipline or something.' And, he was just kind of skirting around it," said Capps.
Capps says she then asked Cooper if he had called the police, and he allegedly said he had not. Capps says she hung up the phone and called the police immediately to file the report.
The administrative office was notified about what happened when Capps' son and several of his classmates filed reports during a recess. Capps says her son asked to call his mom at this time and was told he could not, and he was sent to a different class than the substitute was teaching.Â
The Lyon County School District released the following statement regarding what happened.
"On Monday, April 20, 2026, Fernley Intermediate School (FIS) and the Lyon County School District (LCSD) became aware of an incident involving a substitute teacher and two students.
LCSD can confirm that the substitute teacher engaged in inappropriate comments and physical conduct, including grabbing two students by the neck in a shaking and choking motion while attempting to explain his disciplinary approach in the classroom. Once the report was confirmed, FIS administration immediately removed the substitute from campus. This behavior is a clear violation of multiple LCSD policies, and the School Resource Officer was contacted by FIS administration once potential violations of law were confirmed.
The substitute is no longer employed by the district, and the matter remains under active investigation by LCSO. Please note that all substitute teachers are required to undergo background checks and hold appropriate licensure through the State of Nevada before being employed by the LCSD.
The safety and well-being of all students remain our highest priority. We are grateful to the students who came forward to report this incident and appreciate the courage they showed in advocating for themselves and others, as well as the staff who supported them. We are in communication with the affected families and Lyon County Sheriff's Office. Resources are available to support students and families both within the school district and the broader community. If you believe you or your child could benefit from these resources, please contact your school’s administration for assistance.
LCSD takes all reports of misconduct extremely seriously. We are deeply concerned by what occurred and want to be clear that this behavior is not tolerated and does not reflect our standards or expectations. We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful learning environment and encourage students, staff, and families to report any concerns immediately so they can be addressed without delay."
Palu has since been arrested and charged. He is facing charges of Felony Child Abuse or Neglect and is being held on a $20,000 bondable bail.
Due to the injuries associated with the alleged crime, a GoFundMe has been started to cover medical costs. It can be found here: Fundraiser by Shannadeen Carroll: Support Darleen’s Family After School Incident
