A woman who had been in a classroom for more than 30 years has put on an orange prison uniform and started serving a 30-day jail sentence.

Nearly two years after being accused of assaulting a child with special needs, former Youngstown teacher Geraldine DeWitt was booked into the Mahoning County jail on Thursday.

DeWitt, 62, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of negligent assault and was sentenced last month.

Judge Renee DiSalvo opted to not hand down the maximum sentence of 90 days in jail but said probation alone is not enough. She sentenced DeWitt to 30 days behind bars and two years of probation. She was also fined $250.

At the request of DeWitt's attorney, Judge DiSalvo postponed the start of DeWitt's jail term until she could receive the COVID-19 vaccine.