Ex-Pa. guard acquitted of bag charge in abuse case

March 25, 2011 at 9:57a.m.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A former Pennsylvania prison guard has been acquitted of aggravated assault for allegedly putting a plastic bag over her adopted daughter’s head, but found guilty of eight lesser counts of child abuse.

Forty-one-year-old Annissa Schoolfield, of Millcreek Township, was convicted of four counts each of child endangerment and simple assault Thursday after Erie County prosecutors say she beat her four adoptive children, ages 7 to 13, with a belt.

Schoolfield lost her job at the State Correctional Institution-Albion after the charges were filed in April.