A suspended Rockland teaching assistant for developmentally disabled children has been acquitted of dunking two special needs students in the school's pool.

Catherine Rio was charged with two felony charges and two misdemeanor charges.

The 54-year-old was acquitted on all four courts.

The Rockland District Attorney Tom Walsh released the following statement:

“Although the Court did not find the defendant guilty of the crimes set forth in the indictment, our office stands by the decision of the grand jury to indict the defendant and bring this case forward to the trial that was held in this matter. The prosecutors did an outstanding job presenting the evidence in this case on behalf of the people of Rockland County. This verdict is not the outcome we fought so diligently for, however, the decision of guilt or innocence rested with the Judge. My office will continue to advocate for all child victims, especially those who cannot advocate for themselves and pursue justice on their behalf.”

The incident happened last January at the Jesse Kaplan School in West Nyack.

A colleague testified Rios dunked a non-verbal 7-year-old's head underwater in the pool to get the child under control.

Another teaching assistant testified that minutes later, Rios came up behind a non-verbal 6-year-old and dunked him, too.