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proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:08 AM Jan 2013

Missouri woman gets 4 years in prison for hitting teacher

A Cole County woman who assaulted an elementary teacher was sentenced to four years in prison.

Thirty-five-year-old Joann Rutherford was sentenced Wednesday for felony assault on school property.

She was arrested after hitting a teacher at Pioneer Trail Elementary School in Jefferson City last March.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports Rutherford went to the school to contact her son. Rutherford's custody of the boy had been temporarily suspended and staff tried to stop her from seeing the boy.

Prosecutors say Rutherford hit a teacher and grabbed her son but was prevented from taking him out of the building. The school was briefly locked down until Rutherford left.


Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/17/4015539/missouri-woman-gets-4-years-in.html#storylink=cpy

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Missouri woman gets 4 years in prison for hitting teacher (Original Post) proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 OP
Excessive? I Know That is Terribly Wrong but if Was a Heat of the Moment Thing dballance Jan 2013 #1
I agree. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #6
Seems extreme to me as well proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #7
I think it was a combination of the punching plus trying to break a child custody restraining order Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #9
I Did Notice the Part Where Her Parental Rights Had Been Terminated dballance Jan 2013 #10
Consider that her custody of the child had been suspended... joeybee12 Jan 2013 #11
good - good news- let that be a lesson to any who thinks that if you cant get what you want it's ok leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #2
What's missing is information on why she lost custody of the child and bighart Jan 2013 #3
This woman (a teacher) stabbed another teacher in the neck in the middle of a school day Victor_c3 Jan 2013 #4
Even if I was the victim Shankapotomus Jan 2013 #5
Surely, this is excessive. People get off with a slap on the wrist for way worse crimes. Undaunted Jan 2013 #8
There is a lot about this that we don't know. HappyMe Jan 2013 #12
The sentence may have been to protect the son from her more than anything else. randome Jan 2013 #13
These kinds of sentences often happen when there's a prior record. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #14
You Know, If We Arm Teachers, A 4-Year Jolt Might Look Pretty Tame. Paladin Jan 2013 #15
Akron Police Officer Breaks Girls Arm In Ohio School Caught on Camera RandiFan1290 Jan 2013 #16
 

dballance

(5,756 posts)
1. Excessive? I Know That is Terribly Wrong but if Was a Heat of the Moment Thing
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:19 AM
Jan 2013

Last edited Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:53 AM - Edit history (1)

It would seem probation and community service - perhaps at a school - would be more appropriate. Now the people of KS or the US have to support her totally for 4 years and we can add one more person to our number of incarcerated and keep the US number one in the world. It would seem more logical to me to let her keep supporting herself and maybe do some good for the community.

I'm just saying.

LisaLynne

(14,554 posts)
6. I agree.
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:51 AM
Jan 2013

It seems a bit much, just from these details. Unless this woman had a history of running around punching people...

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
9. I think it was a combination of the punching plus trying to break a child custody restraining order
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 01:27 PM
Jan 2013

i'm interested to know why that order was in place to begin with...

 

dballance

(5,756 posts)
10. I Did Notice the Part Where Her Parental Rights Had Been Terminated
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 02:34 PM
Jan 2013

So I am with you. Perhaps there's a lot more about her history that led to the sentence. I'd love to know. But, of course, papers have limited space for stories so I understand why all the background isn't there.

 

leftyohiolib

(5,917 posts)
2. good - good news- let that be a lesson to any who thinks that if you cant get what you want it's ok
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:30 AM
Jan 2013

to hit someone.

bighart

(1,565 posts)
3. What's missing is information on why she lost custody of the child and
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:35 AM
Jan 2013

what her criminal history, if any, is. Dose she have prior convictions for violence? Was the child removed for his own safety?

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
5. Even if I was the victim
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:40 AM
Jan 2013

I don't know if I would feel right someone getting four years for hitting me. Abuse has to be taken seriously but if I was not permanently physically or emotionally scared and it was just a heat of the moment, one time confrontation, I would consider requesting leniency from the court.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
12. There is a lot about this that we don't know.
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 02:45 PM
Jan 2013

Why did she lose custody of the boy? Does she have a history and/or record of assault? These things may have had some bearing on her sentence.

backscatter712

(26,355 posts)
14. These kinds of sentences often happen when there's a prior record.
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 03:03 PM
Jan 2013

If she's a first-time offender, and doesn't have a history of acting like a psycho, this sentence would be excessive. But if the justice system's had prior dealings, and gave her a chance to clean up her act previous times, eventually they'll bring the hammer down.

Paladin

(28,202 posts)
15. You Know, If We Arm Teachers, A 4-Year Jolt Might Look Pretty Tame.
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 03:16 PM
Jan 2013

And I don't view a 4-year sentence as excessive in this case, from what facts are available.
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