BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN AND MARCI LAEHR TENUTA | Posted: Friday, November 9, 2007 12:00 am
RACINE - A Case High School teacher accused last year of slapping a student was acquitted Thursday of the misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge brought against her over the alleged the incident.
Jessica Kachur, 37, was found not guilty in a jury trial in Racine County Circuit Court, more than a year after the incident allegedly took place.
"Obviously, I'm very happy for the outcome. I believe that she was innocent from the beginning," said Patrick Cafferty, her lawyer.
A student reported being struck by Kachur in April of 2006. He told Mount Pleasant police that he and Kachur were speaking in the hallway and then Kachur ignored him and would not answer his question.
The student told police Kachur then walked up and slapped the student in the face. He said he did not provoke her.
The principal told police she had investigated the allegation and spoken with Kachur. Kachur said the student was in her personal space and was mocking her. The principal told Mount Pleasant investigators that Kachur was given a letter of reprimand and told not to strike students again.
Kachur was originally charged with a forfeiture violation. The state dismissed the forfeiture case and filed a misdemeanor in October of 2006. At that time, a trial was set for December. However, a few days before the trial, the victim said there were other witnesses.
Racine County Circuit Court Judge Allan Torhorst denied a request by the District Attorney's Office to add more witnesses and a one-week continuance. The charge against Kachur was then dismissed. In August of 2007 a state appeals court restored the misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.
Cafferty said his client hopes to teach in the future.
"That has not been settled yet. It's our hope that she is going to be returned to the classroom as quickly as possible," he said.