Attorney for former aide accused in altercation with student: Viral video doesn't tell whole story



MILWAUKEE -- 39-year-old Jasmine Pennix -- the former teacher's aide who was allegedly involved in an altercation with a student at Bay View High School that was caught on camera was in court Tuesday, May 10th -- where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Jasmine Pennix



Probable cause was found -- and Pennix was bound over for trial. He has pleaded not guilty.

Pennix was charged on April 22nd with one felony count of physical abuse of a child. This in relation to an incident that happened at Bay View High School on April 20th, that was caught on camera.

Pennix's attorney says the video doesn't show the whole story. He said this case will go to trial.

"It's never pleasant to be charged with a crime, let alone a felony. I think he`s handling it well. If this case remains in this status, I can assure you we will be going to trial," Steve Kohn, Pennix's attorney said.

Of course, if that happens, it will require a jury, possibly comprised of people who have seen the viral video.

"I think it is important for those who are perspective jurors to keep in mind that there's more to this than simply what is on the video. The video doesn`t show the whole incident. It doesn`t show the beginning. It does not show the end," Kohn said.

Jasmine Pennix



Pennix will next be in court on June 3rd for a scheduling conference. Kohn said the focus will be on getting Pennix's bail condition lifted. Currently, he must check in with the monitoring agency "Justice Point."

Kohn said Pennix has no previous criminal record, and a strong employment and education history.

"So I don`t think this is somebody who needs to be monitored," Kohn said.

The felony charge Pennix is facing comes with a maximum penalty of six years in prison and $10,000 in fines if Pennix is convicted.

After the alleged altercation, Pennix was fired by Milwaukee Public Schools.

He has been out of custody on a signature bond.



According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, several boys in a biology class at Bay View H.S. were "ripping on each other." The complaint indicates the boy who was pushed by Pennix "got into an argument with (Pennix)." Pennix then "became upset and pulled the back of the chair that (the teen) was sitting on, causing (the teen) to fall to the floor."

Fight inside Bay View H.S. classroom caught on camera



The complaint indicates the teen was put in a headlock and a witness heard the teen "tell the defendant to 'get off me.'" The two separated -- and a witness heard the teen state "come do something" and then observed the defendant shove (the teen) into a chair and then observed the defendant push (the teen) to the ground with his hands around (the teen's) neck."



Video of the incident, which was shared with the FOX6 News Facebook page, is tough to watch. It shows the teacher's aide push the student into a desk, and then hold him down on the floor. The teacher can be heard leveling expletives at the student during the entire incident.

FOX6 News took a look at the 14-year-old boy's juvenile records.

Those records show that just a week before the incident at Bay View High School, he was sentenced in juvenile court for his role in a January attack on a man in Milwaukee. The boy was released to his mother, placed on supervision and told he must stay out of trouble and attend school.