The Rev. Richard Peacock pumped his fists and announced his pleasure, after an assault case against his wife, Pine Tree fifth-grade teacher Janis Peacock, was dismissed from court on Aug. 25.
With a jury already selected and waiting to enter the 52-3rd District courtroom of Judge Lisa Asadoorian on Friday afternoon, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Hala Jarbou read the stipulations of an agreement reached between the prosecutor’s office and Peacock, through her attorney Raymond Correll.
The stipulations said Peacock must retire from teaching, and relinquish her teaching certificate. She is also not to be affiliated with any public or private school or program, even as a volunteer.
With these stipulations set, and Peacock in agreement, the case was dismissed without prejudice – meaning should there be a violation of the stipulations, charges could be re-filed.
‘The court is not going to stand in the way of these negotiations,? Asadoorian said, as she officially dismissed the charges against Peacock.
The charges stemmed from an alleged incident from the previous school year, when Peacock was accused of pushing a student into a bookcase.
Correll said Peacock had been planning to retire from teaching regardless of the outcome of the case, and that the dismissal was ‘a good resolution for everybody.?
‘She had been a teacher for 36 years and was recovering from surgery,? he said.
Still, the resolution was met with both relief and uneasiness by a large gallery of Peacock supporters.
They were glad it was over, yet saddened by the stipulations that accompanied the dismissal.
‘There are a lot of stipulations on her retirement that are just unfair,? said Kris Marie Kline. ‘We set a precedent here that sends a wrong message to children.?
‘We’ve lost a great teacher,? added Paulie Egner.
‘I think she was very calm and courageous throughout the whole ordeal,? Correll added, noting that Peacock came to the decision to retire weeks ago.
She had been a teacher at Pine Tree Elementary School for nearly 30 years.
The prosecution said the resolution was the result of negotiations that were fairly recent.
Jarbou added that she was glad no children, including the accuser, had to testify in court.
‘It was at the mother’s request,? she said. ‘It was in the best interest of the child, and we were in agreement with it.?
The mother indicated her agreement with the resolution for the record, before Asadoorian dismissed the case.
Peacock and her husband, the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Troy, and a former pastor at Lake Orion United Methodist Church, were given many hugs as they exited the courtroom.