A substitute teacher in Fernley, Nevada, has been arrested and removed from his position after allegedly grabbing two intermediate school students by the neck. The 40-year-old reportedly made the disturbing remark during his class introduction that he was capable of harming them before carrying out the physical altercation.
A TikToker named Lorie shared a video of a woman’s intervention during a Lyon County School District meeting. The woman is Darleen Capps, the mother of one of the students whom 40-year-old James Palu allegedly grabbed. The clip went viral, garnering 1.3 million views, 157,700 likes, and more than 4,000 comments.
In the clip, Darleen summarizes what happened to her 11-year-old boy. According to her, and backed up by a Lyon County Sheriff’s Office statement shared by the Lyon County School District, the incident occurred on April 20, 2026.
At the time, Darleen’s son attended Palu’s class at Fernley Intermediate School, and, during his introduction, explained his disciplinary methods. She said the teacher told students that their necks “were like chicken necks,” and that he could “choke them and break them.”
Darleen accused the Nevada substitute of then grabbing his son’s neck, wrapping his hands around it, and squeezing. The 11-year-old was eventually sent to “write reports,” but he was not allowed to call his mother.
She said the principal contacted her and, according to her, he “tiptoed around the events with the substitute,” but then provided details after she asked directly, and she then contacted law enforcement.
Police Statement
The LCSO statement details that two students, including Darleen’s son, didn’t show “visible signs of injury.” Medical evaluations later identified concerns that were not immediately apparent, and she said her son continues to experience pain.
The Nevada substitute, meanwhile, denied touching the students. Palu, who described himself as a “big teddy bear,” insisted he had “demonstrated” his neck comment on himself. This, according to the LCSO, contradicted other witnesses’ statements, and when pressed on the matter, he became evasive.
On April 30, authorities issued a warrant for Palu’s arrest. He was then taken into custody on first-degree felony child abuse charges. He is being held on a $20,000 bondable bail.
Backlash
The video and case sparked heated responses and backlash.
Some users encouraged Darleen to take action against those responsible. One viewer said, “Get a lawyer and sue this administration.” Another one applauded her handling of the situation, writing, “This mom did exactly the right thing by calling 911 and not deferring to the school. Her child is lucky to have her.”
Other users believed students needed extra protections for situations like these. One person commented, “This is why ALL classrooms need security cameras.” Another one added, “And this is why I’m homeschooling.”
Darleen’s sister has since set up a GoFundMe to help cover her nephew’s mounting medical bills.
