Visalia substitute teacher and Visalia Unified employee facing separate child abuse charges

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Turmoil in Visalia after a pair of school district employees were both arrested for child abuse.

The latest was taken into custody on Wednesday after Visalia Police Officers were called to La Joya Middle School for a report of a substitute teacher who had allegedly grabbed a student.

50-year-old Enrique Serrano was booked on child abuse felony charges.

Records show he has been a sub since fall of last year.

Action News spoke with someone who has known Serrano for decades, they declined to interview but shared he is a good person with children and grandchildren.

Meanwhile, locals are reflecting on classroom management, "I have heard that just from friends of mine that are teachers that it is hard sometimes to have support with discipline issues or following through with school work," says Sharon who has been a homeschool teacher for 20 years.

She says faith and discipline were both factors in why she decided to teach her own kids from home.

"We wanted to have that involvement in their lives. We wanted to pass on our faith on our fatih. We believe there is one God, and our faith in Jesus, we wanted to pass that down."

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Lacie Ann Horsting is also facing child abuse charges.

Visalia Unified School District says she has not been employed since last year, following her arrest.

Action News obtained the criminal complaint, it states ten counts of misdemeanor charges and says that Horsting caused "unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering to a student".

The alleged crime happened between August of 2024 and June of 2025.

Visalia Unified School District declined to interview but did share a statement saying, "While this remains an active legal matter, the individual was immediately removed from the classroom as soon as the district became aware of the situation."

The district also shared, "Visalia Unified employs robust hiring and background clearance procedures and is deeply disappointed by the alleged actions of a few individuals that do not reflect the professionalism and commitment of our nearly 5,000 employees."

Horsting will be arraigned next Tuesday.

For South Valley news updates, follow Kassandra Gutierrez on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.