Mother found not guilty of assaulting assistant principal

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – A Virginia mother accused of hitting an assistant principal at her child’s elementary school in the head, briefly knocking her unconscious, has been found not guilty following an appeal.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/2d5JvjC ) reports 44-year-old Tracy Lawrence had been given a 90-day jail sentence after being convicted in June of assault and disorderly conduct.

Lawrence appealed the verdict and a jury on Tuesday found her not guilty.

Lawrence’s son said Lakeview Elementary School Assistant Principal Sylvia Hodges-Melvin hit him in January while he and another child were involved in a confrontation in the school’s cafeteria.

Lawrence argued that she never hit Hodges-Melvin and accused the administrator of making it up. Hodges-Melvin testified she only separated the boys.

A school system spokesman declined comment on the most recent verdict.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

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