Schaumburg teacher on trial for allegedly abusing autistic students

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-autism-teacher-

09dec09,0,5171785.story

Schaumburg teacher on trial for allegedly abusing autistic students

Prosecution, defense disagree on methods used in special-ed classroom

By Houde | Special to the Tribune

December 9, 2008

The methods used to maintain control of a sometimes chaotic special-

education classroom were at issue Monday as a trial started for a

Schaumburg teacher accused of physically abusing three autistic

students.

Prosecutors said E. McCarthy, 32, dragged students around his

classroom and once slammed a child's head into a cabinet after he

overturned a desk. McCarthy also allegedly forced a student to wear a

weighted vest and bounce on a trampoline for 40 minutes.

McCarthy, of the 700 block of Longview Lane, Palatine, is on trial in

the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court on charges of

aggravated battery to a disabled person and unlawful restraint.

McCarthy was arrested in September 2007 after two teacher aides at

Frost Junior High School made allegations that he had abused students

in his classroom.

His actions resulted in minor injuries to the students, then 11 and

12 years old, and were inappropriate for students who were unable to

communicate, Assistant State's Atty. Nauheimer said in opening

statements.

But defense lawyer Breen argued that McCarthy used methods

commonly employed to calm students. Breen also said the investigation

by police and school officials was faulty, and he denied that

McCarthy had abused students.

Breen said students in the classroom had meltdowns and were

disruptive. He said one student head-butted staff members.