Vicky Townsend
/ photo from Auburn Police
AUBURN -- A mother accused of egging on her 15-year-old daughter in a fight appeared in court Friday morning.
Vicky Townsend, of Auburn, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Police say she drove her daughter to a church parking lot last Friday night in order to fight another teen.
Townsend tells CNY Central she wanted to protect her daughter, because the girl was being bullied. She says she knows she'll have to face consequences for what happened.
In court documents, Townsend admitted she was encouraging her daughter during the fight. She says "I watched the fight and I then got out of my car and started to yell at (my daughter) to fight back. I said 'get up and get that little b---h.'"
A cell phone video of the fight made its way though Auburn High School. Police say they will not release the video because it is evidence.
Police say the argument between the two girls started on Facebook. Townsend says there has been an on-going problem with her daughter being bullied. She wants the school to step in to stop it.
Auburn City School District Superintendent J.D. Pabis says the school district does not have a record of any bullying reports from the Townsend family. He says when a student or parent reports a problem with bullying, the district conducts an investigation.
Pabis says the district has had anti-bullying programs throughout the past three years. That includes training for staff members, cyber bullying information sessions, parent forums, and anti-bullying assemblies.
Townsend was released on her own recognizance. The case was adjourned until May 10th.
