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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Woman accused of choking girl for blocking view at Disney World fireworks show

The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy‘s legendary flight performance squadron, fly in formation over Cinderella Castle and the “Partners” statue at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, in Bay Lake, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)
By Rene Stutzman Tribune News Service

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Michigan woman was arrested Wednesday night, accused of choking a high school girl during a fireworks display at Disney’s Magic Kingdom after the teenager and her friends wouldn’t sit down and blocked her view.

Tabbatha Kaye Mature, 41 of New Baltimore, Michigan, is accused of child abuse, a felony.

She was booked into the Orange County Jail and was released on $2,000 bond.

She did not return a phone call Thursday evening.

According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the girl and other students from her high school were at the Magic Kingdom, and when the nightly fireworks display began, they stood up.

Mature’s family was behind them and insisted that they sit down.

Mature “became aggravated,” according to the report, and the girl and her friends decided to leave.

As she walked away, the girl said she told Mature, “You can take our spot.”

Mature’s response?

“She wrapped both hands around my neck and began squeezing,” the girl told a deputy.

When the student started screaming, Mature released her and said, “You don’t want to mess with me,” according to the girl.

The girl suffered no visible injuries, according to the report, but phoned her mother and both agreed to prosecute, the report said.