LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) – A former Arkansas private school teaching assistant accused of child pornography has asked to delay his criminal trial to determine the extent of damage caused by a stroke he suffered before he was born.
Attorneys for Augustus Shenker asked for a continuance on April 14 in Little Rock federal court, stating federal prosecutors have agreed to postpone the May 24 start date. Shenker’s alleged actions have also landed his former employer in legal trouble, as a civil lawsuit against Miss Selma’s Schools and its owner is pending.
The motion for continuance says medical tests will probably not be completed by May 24.
“Shenker suffered a stroke in utero which left him with certain brain damage and noticeable physical disabilities,” the motion says. “The neurologist retained by the defense needs certain complex brain scans to be performed to determine the existence of and extent of damage to parts of his brain which may have governed, or significantly influenced, the accused conduct.”
Struggles to find a facility in Arkansas with the needed equipment have delayed the medical tests.
A boy’s mom filed suit Jan. 12 in Pulaski County Circuit Court against Miss Selma’s Schools, accusing its owner and vice principal of negligently hiring, supervising and retaining Shenker.
Shenker worked at the school for four years until federal charges came down that included production of child pornography. He is accused of filming pornographic videos with two young girls with his phone.
The lawsuit is filed on behalf of a boy allegedly sexually assaulted in 2021 while in a pre-kindergarten class for 4-year-olds.
"(I)n addition to the sexual abuse, Defendant Shenker filmed the abuse and has distributed such images to third parties in violation of state and federal law," the suit says. "...Shenker's abuse of John Doe occurred during the working hours and was perpetrated against him, and other children, who were under the care, custody and control of Defendants..."