Nearly 100 people, including family, friends and colleagues from the Lake Orion School district, packed Judge Lisa Asadoorian’s courtroom on June 28, in support of Janis Peacock, a fifth-grade Pine Tree teacher accused of alleged assault and battery against a student.
Peacock was charged after a June 2 incident, in which she is accused of allegedly pushing a student into a bookcase while intervening between some ‘roughhousing? students.
The student later reported a back injury, and Peacock could face up to 93 days in jail if she’s found guilty.
On June 28, Peacock’s first day in the 52-3 District Court on the misdemeanor charge, Judge Asadoorian scheduled a jury trial to begin on Aug. 25.
Peacock’s hearing lasted about 10 minutes. A majority of the people watching were there specifically to support their friend and co-worker.
‘She’s always been a very mild-mannered person,? said retired Lake Orion teacher Carol McCormick, who taught Peacock’s children in Sunday School at Lake Orion United Methodist Church, and had Peacock’s eldest son in her class in junior high.
‘I think 30 years of teaching speaks for itself,? McCormick said. ‘I’ve never known Jan to be anyone to use any type of corporal punishment.?
Peacock attends church in Troy, where she currently resides. Her husband is a former LOUMC pastor, and now serves in Troy.
Asadoorian, who has just one day a month open for jury selection, informed Peacock directly of her need to appear on Aug. 25.
Asadoorian said the case could begin later that Friday afternoon, but, if not, would happen in the following week.
The judge also set dates to file motions and responses, and set an Aug. 14 date for rulings on the possible filed motions, if need be.
Some of these motions could revolve around an alleged incident from 10 years ago, when Peacock was accused of allegedly choking a student on a field trip. No formal police investigation was conducted, and no charges were ever filed. No records from that time are available, due to a board office fire.
Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Stephen Dunn said he would attempt to include the alleged incident as evidence, when asked by Asadoorian.
Motions must be filed in the case by July 14, with responses required a week later. These motions will likely determine if mention of that alleged incident can be used in court.
Peacock’s attorney Raymond Correll said he hadn’t yet seen anything from the prosecution saying the alleged incident from 10 years ago had ever been formally investigated.
Asadoorian continued Peacock’s bond, which was set at $2,000.
She is on leave from Lake Orion Schools, pending the results of the case and an internal investigation by the school district.