DARLINGTON - A Darlington High School music teacher will make his initial appearance on disorderly conduct charges July 23 in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
Music teacher Todd Richmond, 53, Platteville, is charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling at and grabbing a 14-year-old female freshman student and pushing her into a locker.
The initial appearance first was scheduled for June 9, but the date was changed because Circuit Court Judge William Johnston recused himself from the case. Another judge has not yet been appointed to hear the case.
Lafayette County District Attorney Charlotte Doherty also has recused herself because she and her husband live in the Darlington school district and had four children "very involved in the music program."
"And we're friends with him," Doherty said.
Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman will prosecute the case.
According to the criminal complaint filed May 12 with the Lafayette County District Attorney's office, the student's mother called the Darlington Police Department a couple days after the incident to file a complaint.
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 had instituted a new rule about a month earlier that students are to wait in line with their books until they reach a certain spot, where they can place books on the shelf. The student was not at the designated spot.
Richmond admitted to Darlington Detective Sergeant Joseph Thompson he should not have touched the student.
If found guilty, Richmond faces up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Music teacher Todd Richmond, 53, Platteville, is charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling at and grabbing a 14-year-old female freshman student and pushing her into a locker.
The initial appearance first was scheduled for June 9, but the date was changed because Circuit Court Judge William Johnston recused himself from the case. Another judge has not yet been appointed to hear the case.
Lafayette County District Attorney Charlotte Doherty also has recused herself because she and her husband live in the Darlington school district and had four children "very involved in the music program."
"And we're friends with him," Doherty said.
Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman will prosecute the case.
According to the criminal complaint filed May 12 with the Lafayette County District Attorney's office, the student's mother called the Darlington Police Department a couple days after the incident to file a complaint.
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 had instituted a new rule about a month earlier that students are to wait in line with their books until they reach a certain spot, where they can place books on the shelf. The student was not at the designated spot.
Richmond admitted to Darlington Detective Sergeant Joseph Thompson he should not have touched the student.
If found guilty, Richmond faces up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.