DARLINGTON - A Darlington High School music teacher is being charged with disorderly conduct for an incident which occurred in the school's lunch room April 9.
Todd Richmond, 53, Platteville, is scheduled to make his initial appearance June 9 in Lafayette County Circuit Court for one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, punishable by up to 90 days in jail. He also could be fined up to $1,000.
Richmond declined comment about the case Thursday pending discussion with his lawyer.
Richmond, a teacher at the school for 25 years, still is teaching at the school. Superintendent Joe Galle instructed high school Principal Dan Myers to write Richmond a letter about the incident and place it into Richmond's personnel file.
According to the criminal complaint filed May 12 with the Lafayette County District Attorney's office, Richmond yelled at and grabbed a 14-year-old female freshman student and pushed her into a locker.
The student's mother called the Darlington Police Department a couple days after the incident to file a complaint.
Detective Sergeant Joseph Thompson interviewed the student as part of a supplemental report.
The student said the incident happened during lunch hour after she got out of line to take her books, and the books of three other students, to a shelf.
The school instituted a new rule about a month ago that students are to wait in line with their books until they reach a certain spot, when they can then place books on the shelf. The student was not at the designated spot.
According to the report, the student said she was "scared" after Richmond shoved her against the locker and she was hurt, explaining her right arm was red and sore. The student also got a headache from crying after the incident.
Richmond told Thompson "I can't believe this is going this far," according to the report.
Richmond admitted he confronted the student, the report says. Upon making contact with the girl, she continued to walk past him.
"That, of course, triggered something and I put my hand on her shoulder and I stopped her, backed her up a little bit," Richmond said, according to the report.
Richmond said in the report he was going to make sure everyone in the lunch line knew students "didn't go taking books to the lunch rack.
"We maintain order in that lunch line," Richmond said in the report.
In the report, Myers said Richmond "put her (the student) up against the wall and proceeded to tell her in front of 130 students what was appropriate and what was not appropriate."
Richmond admitted to Thompson he should not have touched the student, according to the report. Thompson reports he asked him if he had ever received any anger control counseling. Richmond reportedly said he hadn't.
Thompson asked Richmond if he had ever had any complaints of his conduct at school.
"Oh yeah, I have exploded once in a while," Richmond said, according to the report.
Thompson reportedly asked Richmond if he felt getting anger management counseling would be beneficial. Richmond said he felt his conduct is such a rare occurrence that it is not a problem.
"I am shocked that this is such a big deal," Richmond said.
Myers, in an interview with Thompson included in the report, said there have never been allegations of physical altercations with students, but, there had been complaints of verbal abuse.
When asked if there were any recent issues, Myers said there "are ongoing issues," according to the report.
When contacted by the Times, Myers would not elaborate on what the ongoing issues are.
Todd Richmond, 53, Platteville, is scheduled to make his initial appearance June 9 in Lafayette County Circuit Court for one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, punishable by up to 90 days in jail. He also could be fined up to $1,000.
Richmond declined comment about the case Thursday pending discussion with his lawyer.
Richmond, a teacher at the school for 25 years, still is teaching at the school. Superintendent Joe Galle instructed high school Principal Dan Myers to write Richmond a letter about the incident and place it into Richmond's personnel file.
According to the criminal complaint filed May 12 with the Lafayette County District Attorney's office, Richmond yelled at and grabbed a 14-year-old female freshman student and pushed her into a locker.
The student's mother called the Darlington Police Department a couple days after the incident to file a complaint.
Detective Sergeant Joseph Thompson interviewed the student as part of a supplemental report.
The student said the incident happened during lunch hour after she got out of line to take her books, and the books of three other students, to a shelf.
The school instituted a new rule about a month ago that students are to wait in line with their books until they reach a certain spot, when they can then place books on the shelf. The student was not at the designated spot.
According to the report, the student said she was "scared" after Richmond shoved her against the locker and she was hurt, explaining her right arm was red and sore. The student also got a headache from crying after the incident.
Richmond told Thompson "I can't believe this is going this far," according to the report.
Richmond admitted he confronted the student, the report says. Upon making contact with the girl, she continued to walk past him.
"That, of course, triggered something and I put my hand on her shoulder and I stopped her, backed her up a little bit," Richmond said, according to the report.
Richmond said in the report he was going to make sure everyone in the lunch line knew students "didn't go taking books to the lunch rack.
"We maintain order in that lunch line," Richmond said in the report.
In the report, Myers said Richmond "put her (the student) up against the wall and proceeded to tell her in front of 130 students what was appropriate and what was not appropriate."
Richmond admitted to Thompson he should not have touched the student, according to the report. Thompson reports he asked him if he had ever received any anger control counseling. Richmond reportedly said he hadn't.
Thompson asked Richmond if he had ever had any complaints of his conduct at school.
"Oh yeah, I have exploded once in a while," Richmond said, according to the report.
Thompson reportedly asked Richmond if he felt getting anger management counseling would be beneficial. Richmond said he felt his conduct is such a rare occurrence that it is not a problem.
"I am shocked that this is such a big deal," Richmond said.
Myers, in an interview with Thompson included in the report, said there have never been allegations of physical altercations with students, but, there had been complaints of verbal abuse.
When asked if there were any recent issues, Myers said there "are ongoing issues," according to the report.
When contacted by the Times, Myers would not elaborate on what the ongoing issues are.