By WMBD TV
PEORIA – A Richwoods High School counselor was charged last week for misdemeanor battery for an alleged incident with a student.
Michael McKenna, 52, appeared in Peoria County Circuit Court last week on the single count of battery, a charge that could lead to a $2,500 fine and possibly up to a year in the county jail.
He will next appear in court on Jan. 23, 2025, where his attorney will be allowed to enter an appearance. Until then, he’s free on pretrial release.
According to Semone Roth of the Peoria Police Department, officers went to the school, located at 6301 N. University St., at about 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5 on a report of an altercation between counselor McKenna, 52, and the student, who was 14.
When police arrived, they were told there was an incident in the hallway when McKenna asked a student to remove his hoodie and the student, who has autism, refused, Roth said.
The student went to walk away when McKenna allegedly grabbed the backpack and pulled, causing the kid to fall, she said.
McKenna was taken to the Peoria Police Department, where he was questioned and then charged with battery and taken to the Peoria County Jail. He was released shortly after with a notice to appear later in court.
Marjorie Kauth, a Peoria Public Schools spokeswoman, confirmed McKenna was still employed at the district but declined to answer any other questions, saying “anything else is personnel related, and I am not at liberty to comment.”
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