FORT WALTON BEACH — Formal charges of child abuse and child neglect have been brought against three Silver Sands employees who were arrested in January, according to a press release from the State Attorney for the First Judicial Court.

The new charges, which are third degree felonies, replace a more serious charge of aggravated child abuse that was levied in January. They are in the same classification as the charges Kenwood ESE teacher Marlynn Stillions faced. She was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.

The employees, Margaret Wolthers, an Exceptional Student Education teacher, and two aides, Diana Lacroix and Carolyn Madison, are accused of "unlawfully and willfully" abusing three young children between Sept. 1, 2018 and Nov. 18, 2018. The children are autistic, according to their original arrest reports.