Former Lincoln special education teacher found guilty of child abuse
A jury found a former special education teacher guilty of intentional child abuse
LANCASTER COUNTY, Neb. — A jury found a former Lincoln special education teacher guilty of intentional child abuse following a trial in Lancaster County District Court.
Court records show Hilary F. Adams Everett, 44, was charged with child abuse involving multiple minors and is facing up to three years in prison,
After deliberations, the jury returned a verdict finding Everett guilty of intentional child abuse on Count I.
Court documents state the incidents occurred on or between Aug. 1, 2024, and Feb. 26, 2025. The investigation began after a report was made to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services hotline on Feb. 26, 2025, prompting a police investigation.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, a paraeducator who worked daily in Everett’s classroom at Beattie Elementary, reported witnessing Everett use hand sanitizer on the mouth of a nonverbal student in an apparent attempt to stop the child from spitting. Another special education teacher reported observing similar behavior involving the same student in December 2024.
The affidavit also alleges Everett sprayed a bleach-and-water solution on the hands of two students to prevent them from putting their hands in their mouths and gripped, squeezed and escorted two students by the ear. Another incident described in court records states Everett allegedly slapped a student in the back of the head after escorting the child to a room. The student later complained of neck pain and was sent to the school nurse.
Court records identify three victims, ages 5, 6 and 7, referred to by initials because they are minors.
Everett was arrested March 18, 2025. Court records show that sentencing will take place on April 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.