Chattahoochee High School's principal on Wednesday denied allegations that he slammed a middle school student against the wall in anger -- accusations that have him facing a simple battery charge.
But Timothy Duncan told his side of the story to the media outside a Fulton County courtroom, not to a judge as was expected Wednesday.
Earlier, State Court Judge Victoria D. Moran, with a hint of a reprimand, had warned Duncan about the perils of representing himself when he initially attempted to proceed without a lawyer. She postponed the hearing until Jan. 4.
"This turned into a much bigger event than I thought it would be," Duncan said after the hearing. "I feel I will be vindicated when I get to trial. But I feel I needed to be prepared."
Duncan has been charged with simple battery on allegations he slammed 13-year-old Calvin White Jr. against a wall on Sept. 25.
That is what White and several witnesses said, according to a Fulton County Schools Police Department incident report. Duncan said he merely "put my hands on his shoulder."
The incident occurred on a Sunday when a group of middle school students were at the high school as volunteers to set up for the Taste of Johns Creek, an annual event featuring food from local restaurants.
White told police the students had been lured to a classroom to see a fake cadaver, but started running away when someone startled them and that Duncan then grabbed him in the hallway. Duncan said the students were running wild in the halls and a fire alarm had been set off.
"They were in an area where they should not have been," said Duncan. "I believe my response was justified. I acted appropriately. The students and parents of Chattahoochee know me well. They know I am not capable of doing the things I have been accused of."
Samantha Evans, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County Schools, said investigations by the system's employee relations department and the Department of Family and Children Services found no reason to discipline Duncan.
But an investigator with the Fulton County Schools Police Department, wrote in the incident report that after interviewing witnesses and watching video of the incident captured by security cameras, he found probable cause to sustain a charge of simple battery, a misdemeanor, against Duncan.
Theresa Thomas, White's mother, said she is disturbed about how the school system and the county has handled the case.
"I am furious about the royal, above-the-law treatment that he has been given," Thomas said. "Then we come to court and he shows up without an attorney. He has to be smarter than that. I would like to see justice served."
A football and basketball player at Taylor Middle School, White is scheduled to attend Chattahoochee High next fall. Thomas said she is no longer certain that will happen.
"This has taken a toll on him and on my family," Thomas, a medical administrator from Johns Creek, said. "My son is going to be affected for life by this . . .. It was totally wrong and something needs to be done about it. I would be fearful to even have him there."
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