The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a vice principal and teacher from Progress Village Middle School in connection with a child abuse investigation.
On January 18, 2024, Bennie Leverett, 39, a teacher at Progress Village Middle School, put a student in a chokehold, restricting the student's ability to breathe before eventually releasing the hold.
Tashiska Fabian, 41, the school's vice principal, met with Leverett and the student after becoming aware of the incident. However, Fabian did not report the matter to the child abuse hotline or law enforcement.
Additionally, Fabian learned that a student had recorded the incident between the teacher and student on video and instructed the student to delete the footage.
The video was deleted but later recovered by detectives.
On February 16, 2024, HCSO responded to the school with the Department of Children and Families. Following the investigation, Leverett was arrested on March 14, 2024.
Following a detailed investigation, detectives determined Fabian failed to report this incident and issued a warrant for her arrest. On September 4, 2024, Fabian was arrested by HCSO's Warrant Section.
"It is deeply troubling that a teacher would harm a student, but even more so when a person in a position of authority fails to do the right thing and report the crime. This is a complete betrayal of trust within our community," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "I'm proud of the witness who stepped up and did the right thing by reporting the incident, ensuring law enforcement could step in and bring justice for the victim."
This is an active investigation. Any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.
