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Mistrial Declared in Trial of Fallon Ex-School Aide

Posted: 10:50 AM May 27, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

FALLON, Nev. (AP) - A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a former Churchill County elementary school instructional aide accused of child abuse.

Senior District Court Judge Robert Estes announced the deadlock Friday after jurors spent more than 12 hours deliberating a verdict for Loretta Schmelz.

Schmelz, a former aide at Numa Elementary School, was charged with six counts of child abuse. She's accused of pinching children, twisting their arms and wrists, and slamming a table into the mouth of a child in 2009 and 2010.

The Lahontan Valley News reports a new trial date of Dec. 10 was set.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Shawcroft says he'll have to reevaluate the case before a decision can be made about pursuing a new trial.