Misdemeanor assault charges have been filed against a South Cache Middle School teacher who is accused of pulling the ear of a 13-year-old boy who disobeyed him.
Paul Parker, a 30-year teaching veteran, was terminated from his teaching post after the incident last week, said Cache School District Superintendent Larry Jensen.The school board will discuss the matter Thursday in an executive session, which is closed to the public.
The criminal charges were filed Friday. When contacted by phone Friday night, Parker, who taught eighth- and ninth-graders, said he could not discuss the incident because of the pending legal action.
The local teachers union is working on behalf of Parker, who has 15 days to appeal the notice, said Barbara Covert, director of the Northern Utah Uniserv.
Parker, a Hyrum resident, is accused of pulling a student's ear when the boy opened a window after Parker told him not to. The parents noticed the injury and turned the matter over to the Cache County sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office turned the evidence over to Hyrum authorities.
After his investigation, Hyrum City Attorney Bruce Jorgensen said the "facts justified the charges."
Parker's arraignment likely will be in the next two weeks. He could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.