A recently graduated Salem High School student is bringing her teacher to court after he allegedly called her a liar and slapped her across the face.
Megan Weidle, 18, filed simple assault charges against longtime English teacher Steve Merritt, reports Today’s Sunbeam.
Weidle filed the criminal complaint on June 20 -- the day of her graduation. In it she stated that Merritt tried to do bodily harm to her “specifically by approaching her and questioning her about something another teacher told her to do and stating, ‘Stop lying to me,’ and proceeding to slap her across her right cheek with his left hand,” reports the newspaper.
In an interview with Fox News, Merritt said that he did slap the 18-year-old woman, but later told Today’s Sunbeam that there are things that need to be clarified.
“There are a lot of things I’d like to clarify, but at this time there is no comment I can make,” Merrit told the newspaper. “I firmly believe it’s in my best interest not to say anything at this time.”
Salem City School District Superintendent Dr. A. Patrick Michel said that some of the Fox News report was untrue.
“I will say that how Fox News reported it was not entirely accurate,” Michel told Today’s Sunbeam. “I’d like to stick to a ‘no comment’ at this time to preserve the privacy of Mr. Weidle’s daughter and Mr. Merritt.”
According to Weidle’s father, Don Weidle of Quinton, N.J., the brief argument happened June 13 when Megan Weidle and some other seniors were allowed to use an empty classroom during a free period.
Megan Weidle closed the door between that room and Merritt’s classroom. Merritt opened the door and asked who closed it. When Megan Weidle said that another teacher told her she could, Merrit said she was lying and slapped her, Don Weidle told Today’s Sunbeam.
The complaint is scheduled for an Aug. 2 court hearing.
