Teacher acquitted of abusing autistic students

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Teacher acquitted of abusing autistic students

December 17, 2008 at 5:09 PM

A former special education teacher was found not guilty today on all

counts alleging he abused autistic students at a Schaumburg junior

high school.

" It's like a weight removed off me, " E. McCarthy said after

the bench trial ruling. " It finally clears my name. "

Testifying in his own defense, McCarthy denied tying one student with

jump-rope, pushing another into a wall, or forcing another to jump

long periods on a trampoline wearing a weighted vest.

The trampoline was a common technique, used to diffuse agression,

McCarthy told Judge Scotillo.

In his ruling, the judge agreed. He said there was no evidence to

prove the battery charges and said nothing showed McCarthy went

beyond " accepted peactice " when using the trampoline.

Asked by his defense attorney if he ever intentionally harmed

students, McCarthy replied, " No way. "

McCarthy stood trial in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County

Circuit Court for allegedly using excessive force to control autistic

students at Frost Junior High School in Schaumburg.

Habib Behrouzi, a former aide at Frost, testified last week that

McCarthy appeared to be on edge in August 2007 at the start of

classes and that McCarthy used more force than he thought was needed

to cope with students who were disruptive in class.

McCarthy, 32, of Palatine, faces charges of aggravated battery and

unlawful restraint. He was arrested in September 2007 after two

teacher's aides made allegations that he had abused students, then 11

and 12 years old, in his classroom.

Behrouzi, an aide in McCarthy's classroom, has testified that one

student would lean back in his chair and that McCarthy would push the

chair forward to prevent the child from falling. Once the child fell

forward and bumped into a cabinet when McCarthy pushed the chair,

Behrouzi said. The boy suffered a small bruise.

Another student would kick off his shoes, and McCarthy sometimes

threw the shoes back at the student, hitting him, Behrouzi testified.

At the time, McCarthy had taught for three years in Schaumburg-based

Community Consolidated School District 54. He has opted for a bench

trial before Scotillo.

--Jeff Long