FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Criminal charge are filed Friday against a Visalia high school teacher who forcibly cut a student’s hair in class.
A student’s video shot in class on December 5th, and posted on social media shows Margaret Gieszinger chasing students with scissors while belting out the “Star Spangled Banner” at University Preparatory High School.
Tulare County’s District Attorney Tim Ward has charged the 52-year-old woman with one count of false imprisonment, two counts of cruelty to a child, two counts of battery, and one count of assault.
Each count is a misdemeanor.
If convicted on all charges, 52-year-old Gieszinger faces up to three years and six months in jail.
Gieszinger was arraigned Friday afternoon at the County Pre-trial Facility, and was released on her own recognizance.
She is scheduled to appear in court on December 17th in Department 11 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’S Liz Kern:
