Nonprofit closes CBSD investigation – Bucks Round-Up – January 15, 2026
Nonprofit closes CBSD investigation
Disability Rights PA (DRP), a nonprofit watchdog group that last April issued a report on alleged abuse in an autistic-support classroom in Central Bucks School District’s Jamison Elementary school, has concluded its probe of CBSD. DRP determined in its April findings that administrators failed to duly investigate the allegations. The revelations resulted in the firing of Superintendent Steven Yanni and former Jamison principal David Heineman, among others including teacher Gabrielle McDaniel and education assistant Rachel Aussprung, both of whom were accused of the abuse. Their alleged actions included improperly using retraints and allowing children to remain in states of undress and engage in frankly sexual behavior. A November visit by DRP, in which interviews were conducted with administrators and autistic-support staff, led to no discovery of any “new reports of abuse and neglect.” In a letter by Andrew Favini, new measures the district has adopted to prevent abuse and ensure its proper reporting “were substantial and emphasized a focus and dedication to improving the autistic support programs.” Yanni and Heineman are appealing their terminations. Former pupil services director Alyssa Wright is suing CBSD and eight current or former school directors, contending that she was a whistleblower who nonetheless was wrongly fired.
Bucks County sheriff pushes back on ‘sanctuary’ label
Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler (D) on Wednesday formally announced that his office will no longer participate in the federal ICE 287(g) program, a move that ends the county’s agreement allowing sheriff’s deputies to work directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Speaking at a news conference outside the county government building in Doylestown, Ceisler emphasized that the decision does not amount to opposition to federal immigration enforcement. He said his office will continue cooperating with ICE and other law enforcement agencies at all levels. “We are continuing to maintain an open dialogue with ICE and all of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” Ceisler said. Ceisler also sought to dispel claims that Bucks County is becoming a sanctuary county. “By any definition of a sanctuary county, we are not one,” he said. The 287(g) partnership was initiated under former Sheriff Fred Harran, whom Ceisler defeated in the November election. Ceisler signed documents Wednesday officially dissolving the agreement between the Sheriff’s Office, Bucks County, and ICE.
Levittown man charged in Bensalem shooting
A Levittown-area man is facing attempted homicide and multiple firearms charges following a January shooting in Bensalem Township. Police were called just before 1 a.m. to the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park on Gibson Road, where they found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. Officers applied a tourniquet and provided lifesaving aid before the victim was transported to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. He was later released. Investigators determined the shooting followed an argument between the victim and occupants of a red four-door sedan. During a physical confrontation with the driver, a rear-seat passenger fired two shots, one of which struck the victim and another that hit a nearby mobile home. Through surveillance footage, intersection cameras, and a license plate reader, police identified 21-year-old Travis Fleck of Philadelphia as the suspect. Fleck later admitted to firing the shots and to carrying the firearm without a permit. A search of his residence uncovered four firearms, including a 9mm ghost gun believed to be used in the shooting. Fleck turned himself in and is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility after bail was set at ten percent of $1 million.
Gas odors prompt school dismissals in Lower Bucks
Out of caution following last month’s deadly Bristol nursing home explosion, officials evacuated students from two Lower Bucks County schools Wednesday after reports of gas odors. Students at Snyder-Girotti Elementary School in Bristol were relocated to the Grundy Ice Arena, while Maple Point Middle School students in Middletown Township were temporarily moved to Core Creek Elementary. Both schools ultimately dismissed students early. Officials said there was no indication the incidents were related. The explosion at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center is receiving more scrutiny after staff and residents reported smelling a gas odor the day of the explosion and days before the tragic incident.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
