Teacher Arrested After Showing R-Rated Film Won’t Be Charged
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SANTA PAULA — No criminal charges will be filed against a high school teacher arrested in her classroom after showing students the R-rated, Oscar-nominated film “American Beauty.”
Mary Louise Peterson was arrested March 6 for investigation of trespassing because she refused to leave her classroom after being placed on administrative leave.
“Both the Santa Paula School District administrators and the Santa Paula Police Department bent over backward to avoid an arrest,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Greg Totten said.
Peterson’s placement on administrative leave and her arrest stemmed from insubordination and disruptive behavior in the classroom, not specifically from showing the film, the prosecutor said.
Totten said Peterson’s case would be best handled administratively or in civil courts.
“I’m completely relieved,” Peterson said.
On March 6, Vice Principal Rosalinda Alvarez asked Peterson to step out of her classroom to talk about her unauthorized showing of R-rated movies to students. Peterson sat down and refused to leave.
The Santa Paula school board unanimously agreed March 9 with high school administrators’ decision not to renew Peterson’s contract.
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