Plea entered to misdemeanor neglect in Auburn special needs case

AUBURN – An Auburn Public Schools para teacher is scheduled for sentencing after entering a plea to misdemeanor neglect of a special needs student on April 6.

Court records say 59-year-old David Archuleta was working with a 12-year-old special needs student. A video recording in the middle school shows Archuleta lifting a chair.

An arrest affidavit says the student refused to return to his homeroom and Archuleta said he lifted the chair thinking the child would stand up. Instead, the student slid out onto the floor. There were no injuries.

Archuleta told investigators he had been fired by the school district.

The court has ordered a victim impact statement.