January 31, 2026 - On Friday, Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced that Mary McGrew of Sonora pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of Penal Code section 243.2, Battery on School Property. Her plea arose from an incident that occurred at Sonora Elementary School on January 23, 2025, where in McGrew’s capacity as a speech therapist, she battered a seven-year-old child with autism in her classroom. At that time, McGrew was employed as a Speech Therapist by the Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools. 

This plea occurred Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in front of the Honorable David Beyersdorf. McGrew was placed on one year of summary probation and she was ordered to complete 25 hours of community service and 25 weeks of therapy, to pay a $220 fine, and to write an apology letter to the victim and his family. Moreover, she will be subject to a 10 year firearm prohibition. This negotiated disposition was reached with the full support of the victim's family, who were present in court to hear McGrew enter her plea of guilty. 

DA Jenecke stated, "The child victim in this case was completely innocent of any wrongdoing and one of our most vulnerable children. Any allegations to the contrary are untrue and were never supported by the evidence. I am grateful to the victim and his family for staying steadfast in seeking justice with our Office."

This case was prosecuted by District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke, investigated by former Sonora Police Department Detective, now Tuolumne County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Brickley, and the victim and his family was supported by DA Victim Advocate Hollie Brown. 

Additionally and in relation to this case, DA Jenecke announced that Sonora Elementary School Superintendent Cheryl Griffiths and former Sonora Elementary Vice Principal Kristiane Quinn were each charged with a misdemeanor violation of Penal Code section 11166 for failing to report the McGrew incident to law enforcement and child welfare services as mandated by law. Instead of being informed about the McGrew incident by either Sonora Elementary School staff or administrators, the Sonora Police Department learned of the McGrew incident from the victim's parents who were not told about the incident twelve days after their son was battered. Pursuant to Penal Code section 11166, mandated reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse and "shall make an initial report by telephone to [law enforcement of child welfare services] immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, and shall prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written follow-up report within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident."

On January 30, 2026, Griffiths was cited and released on her arrest warrant that was submitted by the District Attorney's Office and signd by a judge. She was given a court date of March 4, 2026. Quinn was notified of her arrest warrant and given an opportunity to turn herself in on her warrant to the Sonora Police Department. She now resides out-of-county. 

The District Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting the children in our community, including by holding those accountable those person who fail to report suspected child abuse as required by law. DA Jenecke stated, "State law properly charges mandated reporters with the sacred duty of protecting our children by requiring them to report suspected child abuse. Failure to do so will be addressed by our Office when possible and appropriate."

No additional comments will be provided at this time to preserve the integrity of these cases. 

Source: Tuolumne County District Attorney