Illinois teacher on trial for alleged abuse of students with autism

From the Chicago Tribune Dec. 9:

The methods used to maintain control of a sometimes chaotic special-education classroom were at issue Dec. 8 as a trial started for a Schaumburg teacher accused of physically abusing three autistic students.

Prosecutors said Patrick E. McCarthy, 32, dragged students around his classroom and once slammed a child's head into a cabinet after he overturned a desk. McCarthy also allegedly forced a student to wear a weighted vest and bounce on a trampoline for 40 minutes.

McCarthy, of the 700 block of Longview Lane, Palatine, is on trial in the Rolling
Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court on charges of aggravated battery to a disabled person and unlawful restraint.

McCarthy was arrested in September 2007 after two teacher aides at Frost Junior High School made allegations that he had abused students in his classroom.

His actions resulted in minor injuries to the students, then 11 and 12 years old, and were inappropriate for students who were unable to communicate, Assistant State's Atty. Cathy Nauheimer said in opening statements.

But defense lawyer Thomas Breen argued that McCarthy used methods commonly
employed to calm students. Breen also said the investigation by police and school officials was faulty, and he denied that McCarthy had abused students.

Breen said students in the classroom had meltdowns and were disruptive. He said one student head-butted staff members.