A South Carolina teacher is facing criminal accusations after an incident of alleged “horseplay” with a student escalated into a physical altercation resulting in injury.
Marlin Roberts, 29, has been formally charged with third-degree assault, according to records examined by Law&Crime. He was taken into custody by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and subsequently booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The incident took place on a Wednesday at Spring Valley High School, where Roberts was employed as a teacher. According to McClatchy News, the student involved was a 15-year-old girl.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, a school resource officer was informed that Roberts and the student “began to horseplay” within a classroom setting. At some point during the interaction, the girl reportedly “jokingly attempted a karate-style kick” directed at the teacher, which caused her to lose her balance and fall to the floor.
Roberts allegedly responded by seizing the student by her foot and dragging her across the classroom floor. Authorities confirmed that the girl sustained a scrape as a result of the incident. She and her parents subsequently reported the matter to the appropriate authorities, as confirmed by local NBC and CW affiliate WIS. Roberts was later detained by deputies and reportedly admitted to the allegations against him.
Richland School District Two, the governing body responsible for Spring Valley High School, issued an official statement to parents regarding the matter. The language of the statement strongly implies that Roberts is no longer employed by the school district.
“I want to make you aware of an incident involving a former employee today that resulted in an arrest,” the statement obtained by WIS begins. “While we cannot share additional details due to the privacy of those involved, please know that we are taking this matter seriously, following district policy, and working with the appropriate district personnel. We remain committed to ensuring that our school is a safe and supportive environment for all students.”
The future course of legal proceedings in Roberts’ case remains uncertain at this time. Spring Valley High School is situated in Columbia, South Carolina, which serves as the state’s capital.
Leave a Reply