Teacher who taped student to desk guilty of unlawful restraint

A substitute teacher who dealt with an unruly 8-year-old by taping him to his seat is looking at some confinement of his own after a McHenry County jury Friday found him guilty of two felony charges.

Jurors deliberated about three hours before convicting Matthew Konetski, 32, of unlawful restraint and aggravated battery, leaving him facing a maximum five years in prison when sentenced July 15.

The decision ended a four-day trial in which Konetski, of South Beloit, Ill., testified that his actions in March 2006 were necessary to control his special education classroom at Harvard's Jefferson Elementary School.

Prosecutors said the verdict showed jurors didn't believe those claims.

"They didn't buy that his actions were justified in any way," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Michael Combs said. "What he did to that boy was criminal."

Combs said the prosecutors' office would review Konetski's background before determining whether to seek a prison sentence or probation.

Konetski did not comment after the verdict. He will remain free on bond until sentencing.

Earlier Friday Konetski testified that he taped the 8-year-old and another boy to their seats, then placed tape over their mouths, when they repeatedly refused to sit still and be quiet. Their actions, he said, were endangering and disrupting the rest of the class.

"It was not to scare them or make them feel uncomfortable," he said. "It was to get the point across, in a fun way, without yelling at them."

A first-year substitute with no training in special education, Konetski testified he did not believe he did anything improper.

"I thought it was appropriate because my other option would have been to yell at the students and I didn't want to do that," he said. "I didn't mean any harm and I don't believe I caused any harm."

During closing arguments his defense told jurors state law grants teachers parent-like rights when dealing with students, including authority to restrain a child when necessary.

"There's no question he had the legal authority to do this," defense lawyer James Bishop said.

Prosecutors, however, argued there is no way to justify taping a child to his seat and taping his mouth shut.

"No reasonable teacher would tape a student to his chair for wandering around a classroom," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein said. "The defendant's actions that day were in no way reasonable. They were criminal."