A sixth-grade teacher in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, is facing charges of malicious punishment after allegedly standing on the backs of three students during a lockdown drill in February. Jason Rogers, a science teacher at Underwood School, is accused of stepping on three students during the drill on Feb. 10, according to a criminal complaint filed earlier this month.
Rogers, who weighs more than 350 pounds, told investigators that some students were not taking the drill seriously and were lying on their stomachs instead of sitting down. He then told the students he could step on them and intentionally stepped on one of the students. The student did not know why Rogers did this and thought he had broken his back.
After the student audibly groaned, Rogers asked if he was okay. The student missed classes for the rest of the week, prompting concern from Rogers. When questioned by detectives, Rogers admitted to placing his foot on the lower back of one student and stepping on him. He also admitted to stepping on two other students.
The victim’s mother reported that her son walked around like an 80-year-old due to the pain in his back caused by Rogers’ actions. Rogers has been charged with one count of malicious punishment and is scheduled to appear in court on April 8. He has been placed on administrative leave by Underwood School District Superintendent Jeff Wilson.
