THOMASVILLE — The founder of a Thomasville private school is scheduled to stand trial next week on charges involving treatment of children at the school.

Indictments returned on Linda McLean, 69, in 2017 claim she assaulted eight students at Favor Christian Academy students between August 2016 and May 2017.

In early 2018, McLean was living near Atlanta and out of jail on bond.

McLean was indicted on 15 charges: eight counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of battery, one count of simple battery and one count of simple assault.

The indictment states McLean forced one child to lie across a chair with their pants down and made bigger students pin him down so she could whip him.

The indictment also states she threw workbooks at children and choked them.

She is charged with grabbing a child by the head, twisting their neck and forcing their head onto the table repeatedly.

Southern Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Catherine Smith, who is prosecuting the case, could not be reached for comment.

McLean is being represented by Atlanta attorney Chinwe’ Foster. A spokesperson for Foster said they are not making any comments about the case.

McLean was arrested in September 2016, and released from jail the same day on a $3,600 bond on a charge of cruelty to children in the first degree.

On Feb. 25, 2017, McLean was charged with aggravated stalking. She was released from jail on March 20, 2017, on a $50,000 bond.

She was charged with aggravated stalking after contacting a witness in the September case, Jamy Steinberg, special agent in charge of the Thomasville Georgia Bureau of Investigation office, said in 2017.

“We look forward to the upcoming trial this month and presenting our case in court,” Steinberg said Wednesday.

The 507 N. Madison St. property where school is located is for sale.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820