Southwest student charged with punching teacher

A Southwest High School student is charged with a felony after punching a teacher over a remark the teacher says was intended as a joke.

Ridwaan H. Mohamud, 17, is accused of breaking the nose of a teacher by punching him in the face Monday morning at the school.

He is charged as an adult in Brown County Circuit Court with substantial battery and disorderly conduct and could face 3½ years in prison if convicted.

The male teacher had been counseling Mohamud Friday about his getting picked on by someone at the school, and the teacher told him he'd be willing to date him, the criminal complaint says. The teacher said he intended the remark as a joke and as a way to tell Mohamud he wasn't ugly.

The school's associate principal, Jeff Vanlannen told police he'd been made aware of the discussion on Friday and assured Mohamud the teacher wasn't making advances to him, the complaint says.

Mohamud's mother told school authorities and police that she had tried to talk Mohamud out of being angry over the weekend, the complaint says. Mohamud entered the teacher's first-hour class Monday, called out his name, then approached and punched him in the face, the complaint says. Witnesses who intervened said the teacher made no effort to defend himself, the complaint says.

Mohamud was released on a signature bond.

psrubas@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @PGpaulsrubas