A state court judge on Wednesday granted a warrant request against a Liberty Elementary School second-grade teacher who reportedly tipped a student’s desk Sept. 21.

Parents Rebecca McGee and Casey Nash on Tuesday made their cases for pursuing charges against veteran teacher Janice Hall before Judge Leon Braun.

Braun accepted warrant requests from Nash for simple battery and disorderly conduct, but he denied McGee’s disorderly conduct warrant request.

Nash testified that her 7-year-old daughter, Makayla, a student in Hall’s class, came home with bruises and a bad behavior report on Friday, Sept. 21.

The child reported that Hall became angry when she did not produce an assignment, and Hall reportecly tipped the student’s desk, causing two text books to fall on the girl's legs, Nash said.

Representing Hall, attorney Tyler Randolph with Arnold, Stafford & Randolph argued that the claims against her were not criminal in nature and should be handled within the school system or as a civil matter.

Hall testified that she leaned the desk over so that crammed contents would come out and that the child was not seated at the desk.

“I would never intentionally hurt my children,” Hall added. 

Liberty County School System Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Conley said Wednesday that Hall remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the district's investigation, which will take direction from the court proceedings.

Keep with the Courier for more on this story.