COVINGTON, Louisiana — Two top administrators at E.E. Lyon Elementary School in Covington are facing criminal charges following their arrests for allegedly failing to report suspected child abuse.
Principal Lauryn Faciane and Assistant Principal Tonya Barth were booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail. Official booking records from the facility indicate that Faciane was detained under allegations of child abuse and abuse of children. Barth was similarly booked on charges that included abuse of children. Authorities noted that while jail records list the assistant principal’s first name as Tanya, the E.E. Lyon Elementary School website spells her name as Tonya.
Law enforcement officials clarified that neither Faciane nor Barth are accused of physically abusing children themselves. Instead, investigators allege that both administrators had knowledge of child abuse occurring but failed to notify the proper authorities.
The Covington Police Department brought the criminal charges forward after determining the administrators allegedly violated the mandatory reporting statutes established by Louisiana state law. Covington Police Deputy Chief Kevin Collins announced the counts in a public media release, explaining that the legal framework dictates specific professionals, including educational leaders, must immediately relay any suspicions of child neglect, mistreatment, or related youth emergencies to police or protective services.
Specific details regarding the underlying abuse allegations or the identities of the children involved have been withheld by local authorities. Deputy Chief Collins emphasized that the department is withholding specifics about the initial incidents in compliance with state regulations and to ensure the safety and privacy of the impacted children.
Bail for both administrators was set at $5,000 each following their booking.
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