Teenager Charged in Assault on Coach

In a rare prosecution, the district attorney’s office charged a 16-year-old Mission Viejo High School student Wednesday with severely beating a football coach who was trying to break up a fight last week.

In filing the felony charges, Orange County prosecutors evoked a little-used state law that makes it a felony to attack a teacher.

The coach suffered a dislocated finger, a chipped elbow bone and cuts and bruises on his face and body while trying to restrain the student and take him to the principal’s office, authorities said.

“What was rare about this case is that the attack was so violent and continuing,” said Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Joe D’Agostino.

The incident shocked school officials and prosecutors, who noted that most cases of violence against teachers involve verbal threats or minor shoving incidents that warrant misdemeanor charges. Last year, the district attorney filed only one felony assault charge involving a La Habra attack on a Sonoma High School teacher by a student.

Officials said they are troubled by the small but increasing number of violent incidents between students and teachers and said authorities must crack down now to keep the problem from growing.

The teenager, who was not identified because he is a minor, faces up to three years and eight months in a state youth facility if convicted on one felony count each of assault and battery.

The youth has not been arrested and will be notified to appear in court for his arraignment.