Trial to debate law on teacher rights in class

With questions about former teachers and experiences with special education, jury selection began in a McHenry County courtroom Tuesday for the trial of a substitute instructor accused of taping a rambunctious 8-year-old to his desk.

Matthew Konetski, 32, faces felony charges of aggravated battery and unlawful restraint in connection with the March 2006 incident at Jefferson Elementary School in Harvard.

The charges allege that Konetski, of South Beloit, taped an 8-year-old special education student's arms behind his back and placed him in a seat when the boy repeatedly refused to sit still. Konetski also placed tape over the boy's mouth to keep him quiet during the five-minute long incident, police said.

Konetski's defense does not intend to deny the claims during the trial that's expected to last about two days. Instead, they will argue that state law grants teachers the authority to take reasonable steps to restrain an unruly student.

If jurors find his actions unreasonable and convicts him, Konetski could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, though probation also is a possibility.

Konetski had been facing two additional counts of aggravated battery and unlawful restraint for doing the same to a second student that same day, but McHenry County prosecutors dismissed those charges before jury selection began Tuesday.

Prosecutors refused to discuss why those charges were dropped, however, citing the ongoing case against Konetski.