A Washtenaw County judge dismissed one felony charge against a former teacher's aide for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District who stands accused of abusing two of his students.
Michael Beasley still faces one felony charge and a separate misdemeanor charge when he goes on trial this winter.
Beasley was charged earlier this year in separate incidents involving two students. In each case, prosecutors charged Beasley with both a felony and a misdemeanor. He's accused of striking a 12-year-old across the face and pinching another 12-year-old student.
On May 7, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge David Swartz dismissed one of the felony counts after Beasley's attorney argued there was insufficient evidence for a felony charge in the pinching incident.
Last week, Swartz granted another defense motion to separate the two cases. Beasley will now go on trial in the pinching incident on a misdemeanor charge in the 15th District Court.
The remaining felony case will be heard in circuit court Dec. 7.
Beasley, through his attorney, Douglas Mullkoff, declined to comment on the rulings.
When the incidents were first reported to WISD leadership, Beasley was cleared of the charges. But parents went to police, and prosecutors charged Beasley.
WISD administrators fired Beasley, saying he lied to district administrators.
WISD spokeswoman Gerri Allen said the outcome of the trial won't change the district’s stance because his firing was not based on the court case.
Several other WISD administrators resigned or were reassigned as part of the WISD’s investigation of the case.
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2534 or at davidjesse@annarbor.com.
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