Tabbatha Kay Mature is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of choking a teenager during a fireworks display at Disney’s Magic Kingdom after the girl reportedly blocked her view. Mature, 41, was visiting from New Baltimore Michigan Wednesday, and has since been arrested on a felony child abuse charge and released from an Orange County, Florida jail on a $2,000 bond.
“According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the girl and other students from her high school were at the Magic Kingdom, and when the nightly fireworks display began, they stood up,” reported Rene Stutzman of the Orlando Sentinel. “Mature’s family was behind them and insisted that they sit down.”
The arrest report adds that when the girl decided to leave and offered Mature her spot, an aggravated Mature wrapped both hands around the girl’s neck and began to squeeze.
Briefly setting aside why a rational adult would want to physically harm a minor over such a trivial matter, Mature didn’t have to do much to meet Florida’s legal threshold for child abuse. Chapter 827.03 of Florida’s legal code outlines definitions of abuse and aggravated assault.
“A person who knowingly or willfully abuses a child without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child commits a felony of the third degree,” the code reads.
Mature allegedly told the girl, “You don’t want to mess with me,” after releasing her.
The police report obtained by The Sentinel states the minor didn’t sustain any visible injuries.
