Florida Mom Arrested for Allegedly Joining Daughter’s Fight with High Schoolers at Bus Stop
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office /FOX35 Orlando
A Florida mother is facing serious charges after allegedly intervening in a fight between her teenage daughter and other high school students at a bus stop. The altercation, which was caught on video, shows the mother, Kathryn Stephanopoulos, 34, putting one of the girls in a headlock before being wrestled to the ground and struck in the head with a Stanley cup.
Stephanopoulos was arrested on Monday and charged with aggravated child abuse following the brawl that took place in Bunnell last week, involving her daughter and students from Flagler-Palm Coast High School, according to Fox 35.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute between Stephanopoulos’ daughter and another teen, which escalated over the summer and culminated in an agreement to fight after getting off the bus last Wednesday, as detailed in an affidavit obtained by the station.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reported that one of the mothers, Stephanopoulos, was waiting at the bus stop after being informed by her child about the planned fight. “Once the fight began, the mother joined the fight instead of trying to break it up,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Shocking footage shows Stephanopoulos standing by as the two girls squared off, only to leap into the fray when the fists started flying. During the chaotic struggle, she put her daughter’s rival in a headlock, and they both fell to the ground.
“Yo, not the mom!” one student can be heard shouting in the video as Stephanopoulos grappled with the girl on the ground. A second altercation then erupted between Stephanopoulos’ daughter and a male student who had tried to intervene, according to police.
“How did this s–t even get instigated, bruh?” a student is heard asking in the video. The situation escalated when one of the teens hit Stephanopoulos in the head with a Stanley cup. “Did she just hit her with a Stanley cup?” one student asked, to which another responded, “Yes, she did.”
After the fight, Stephanopoulos and her daughter got into their car and drove away, while the bus continued on its route, dropping the remaining students off at their homes. The individuals involved in the fight sustained only minor injuries such as cuts, bruises, and swelling, according to police.
Stephanopoulos was arrested days later and charged with aggravated child abuse. She was released after posting a $1,000 bond. According to the affidavit, Stephanopoulos expressed regret and embarrassment over the incident.
One of the teens involved in the fight was also arrested on a felony aggravated battery charge, while another faces misdemeanor charges. The outlet did not specify which of the teens was Stephanopoulos’ daughter.
