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HEBER CITY — As students continue to show support for a Wasatch High School teacher charged with child abuse, the man's attorney is mulling whether to opt for a hearing on the evidence in the case.
Steve North, 50, is charged with child abuse, a class A misdemeanor, in 4th District Court for an incident in the classroom involving a student on March 7. The teacher and head football coach made an initial appearance in court Wednesday.
At the hearing attorney Scott Card discussed additional evidence he is seeking. A new hearing was set for May 13.
There have been varying reports as to what specifically happened in the classroom, but North was apparently teaching a physical education class when he tried to discipline a disruptive student.
Card declined to clarify the varying accounts, which range from a simple shove to a beating with a hockey stick. Wasatch High junior Clancy Poulson said Wednesday he was in the classroom when the incident occurred and he believes what he saw didn't amount to child abuse.
"The kid was being disruptive and Coach tried to take care of it," he said, explaining that North lightly tapped the student on the head with the hockey stick the way you would tap someone on the shoulder.
Poulson previously said the student involved in the incident came to class late and then continued to talk during the lesson, even after North tapped him on the head to remind him to be quiet.
He said North then pushed the student against a wall. Poulson said most of the students at the time, including the one involved, appeared to think little of what had happened.
He said the student has since left the school.
Teachers have the right to teach and students have a right to be taught.
–Scott Card, North's attorney
North declined to comment at the hearing but spoke through his attorney. He first wanted to thank the students and community members who have supported him.
"And for good reason," Card said. "He's a good coach. He's a good educator."
Card said his client, who has been teaching for close to two decades, had a right as an educator and an obligation to his students, to try to keep his class under control.
"Teachers have the right to teach and students have a right to be taught," Card said.
He said the May 13 hearing will be used to determine whether to ask for a preliminary hearing in the matter — a right that was only recent given to individuals charged with a class A misdemeanor. The Utah Supreme Court made the decision to allow such hearings in a ruling issued in late March.
In the meantime, North has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the court case.
A few of North's students came to the courthouse, but arrived after the hearing was over because they believed the hearing was at a later time. Poulson, who is also a football player, said they came simply to support their coach and see how they could help.
"We're all behind him and we're all sick of how long this has been dragging out for," he said. "We want our coach back."
He said the students now have little to do in their physical education classes and the ongoing track season has been going "pretty bad" without North there to coach as he typically does.
"We haven't done a thing without Coach, really," Poulson said.
Fellow Wasatch High junior Nick Rubio said he's only been at the school about five months and still notices North's absence.
"He's the best football coach I've ever had," Rubio said. "I miss him like crazy."
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
