New Jersey teacher who ushered student out of class sentenced to 90 days in jail

Jail for NJ teacher who ushered boy out of class

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A New Jersey gym teach and coach who grabbed a student by the ear and ushered him out of a class has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and won’t be allowed to work as a public employee in the state.

Allen Rushing pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons offense on July 23 and had resigned from Monroe High School after the Feb. 19, 2009 confrontation.

During his hearing with Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa, Rushing said that as “a football coach we’re pretty hands on,” The Home News Tribune of East Brunswick reported.

Rushing coached football and wrestling for 25 years in Somerville, Philadelphia and Holyoke, Mass., before joining the faculty at Monroe High.

Rushing said he asked the student to leave several times when the student entered class to retrieve his iPod. Rushing said he grabbed the student after the boy cursed at him.

The newspaper reported that DeVesa acknowledged a likely “degree of provocation.” However, he also found Rushing had “a pattern of being unable do control his behavior when confronted with stressful situations.”

Rushing already was on probation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania after convictions of stalking and violating restraining orders.

He faces charges of violating a restraining order.

Information from: Home News Tribune, www.mycentraljersey.com