Teacher Pleads Guilty, Sentenced For Throwing Chair

bentonharborcharterschoolacademy
bentonharborcharterschoolacademy

It’s nine months of probation for the former Benton Harbor Charter School Academy teacher who threw a chair in class this fall, injuring a student. The “Herald-Palladium” reports 49-year-old Thomas Barnes of St. Joseph pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor assault charge and apologized for losing his cool in the classroom. The chair hit 11-year-old Antownisha Johnson in the head, which gave the girl a mild concussion. Barnes was fired for the incident, but he’s not the only one facing legal issues as a result. Principal Timothy Harris and assistant principal Ashley Smith, both of Benton Harbor, are facing misdemeanor charges for failing to report child abuse. They’re accused of not contacting Child Protective Services in a timely manner.