Mexico School Board lawyer asks judge to dismiss request of teacher accused of abuse

Story by Matt Pilger, editor
Posted 11/9/22

Attorney Tom Mickes, represents the Mexico Board of Education recently filed a motion for summary judgement in the Katrina Dukes lawsuit asking the judge in the case to throw out Dukes request to get …

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Mexico School Board lawyer asks judge to dismiss request of teacher accused of abuse

Posted

Attorney Tom Mickes, represents the Mexico Board of Education recently filed a motion for summary judgement in the Katrina Dukes lawsuit asking the judge in the case to throw out Dukes request to get her job back.

Dukes, was the physical education teacher at Eugene Field, sued the board in September saying the decision to terminate her following allegations of abuse was illegal.

The Mexico Board of Education fired Dukes after she was accused of hitting a second-grade student with a bag of dodgeballs in April, 2022. The incident was caught on surveillance and shows Dukes hit the child twice with the bag of dodgeballs and then force the students into the hallway and dump him on the floor. According to the child's father Tim Grueninger, his son is a special needs child and functions as if he is a 5-year-old. The school resource officer Patrick Carey, reviewed video footage from the gym that showed Dukes allegedly hitting the student. Officer Carey, also spoke with a witness that said Dukes hit the victim "so hard" according to court documents. In the probable cause statement it says the victim showed the school resource officer a bruise on his leg.

The lawyer representing the school Tom Mickes, says "The judge could make a decision on my motion within the next 60 days."

Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger's office charged Dukes in a criminal case with child abuse and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for December 6th. Shellabarger tells the Mexico Ledger, "Whatever decision the judge makes in the other case, the criminal case is moving forward."


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