A Washington County senior prosecutor has been named special prosecutor in a case involving a Columbus city councilman accused of struggling with a student over a cell phone while working as a substitute teacher.
Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash confirmed that Blaine Goode is the special prosecutor in the case, which had been turned over to the Indiana State Police for an investigation in April.
Goode’s appointment lasts for six months, according to state statute, and is not extended unless ordered by the court, Nash said.
A Columbus police incident report filed in April states Jerome, 76, Columbus, attempted to physically remove a phone from a Columbus North High School female student, who had been asked to put the phone away.
The incident occurred April 13 during school where Jerome was working as a substitute teacher, the incident report states.
When Jerome attempted to physically remove the phone from the student, a brief struggle ensued, but no injuries were reported, the report states.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. issued a statement saying a substitute teacher had grabbed a student’s arm, resulting in the student falling from a chair.
The substitute teacher was sent home and will no longer server in that capacity, according to the school corporation statement.
Jerome said he had no comment about the matter after the incident. BCSC officials also declined to comment further about the incident in April.
