Student convicted for chest-bumping teacher

A Lombard man was convicted Tuesday of aggravated battery on a teacher at a North Aurora school, the Kane County state's attorney announced Thursday.

Shurron J. Clark, 19, bumped an instructor with his chest after an incident about a cell phone at Fox Valley Tech and Trade Center.

The confrontation, which occurred July 3 at the alternative school resulted from a disagreement about a school policy which prohibits several items, including jewelry and cell phones.

According to Assistant State's Attorney Danielle Bechtold, who prosecuted the case, Clark brought a phone to the school and when school employees discovered it, they asked him to turn the phone in or leave.

Bechtold said a female employee testified Clark refused and, in the ensuing exchange, got in her face and told her to "shut up." At that point, a male employee was called outside and asked Clark to leave or surrender the phone.

Clark was on the phone with his mother discussing the matter when he felt the employee disrespected his mother by continually asking Clark to leave, Bechtold said. That was when Clark bumped the victim with his chest.

The charge was aggravated because the victim was a school employee on school grounds, according to prosecutors.

The instructor was not injured, but Bechtold said she was grateful that was not a factor in the jury's 2½-hour deliberations.

"They were instructed to follow the law," she said. "In schools, a little situation can turn to worse. I'm glad the jury found the time and place of the offense matters."

Bechtold said she would not determine what sentence to recommend until the conclusion of a pre-sentencing investigation, which will include an inquiry into Clark's history. As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Clark remained in custody with bail set at $50,000. He will return to court for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. July 16 at the Kane County courthouse in Geneva.