PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WVEC) -- A Portsmouth middle school principal faces a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a student.
Portsmouth police Detective Misty Holley told 13News Now that William E. Waters Middle School Principal Alice Graham was issued a summons charging her with assault and battery on Tuesday.
Holley said the 14-year-old student took out the charge against the 48-year-old Graham on Monday through a magistrate.
The student told the magistrate the incident occurred on Oct. 21.
Portsmouth Public Schools told 13News Now an interim principal will be named at a later date, as the allegations into Graham are looked into.
Graham's attorney, Michael Massie, told 13News Now that Child Protective Services sent out a letter stating that the case was unfounded. The letter does not change court proceedings because it is a civil matter and the family brought the charges.
"I think the child is making it up," said Massie, who is planning to poke holes in the girl's credibility during the trial.
In a handwritten statement, the teenager said she was in a hallway late for class when Graham approached. The girl said the principal pushed her so hard her arm, "popped," according to court documents obtained by 13News Now.
The teenager also wrote that Graham admitted to the abuse. Massie denies this claim.
"Also she said you can tell the reporter, the police and I'm still going to say I did it," the girl wrote in the criminal complaint.
"The language doesn't even sound like the language a principal would use in a school setting," Massie said.
Graham has not returned to the school since the charge was filed. School officials did not comment on her employment status, but Massie said she was still employed with the district.
"You know these are very serious allegations against a school principal, I mean this can be a deal breaker as far as a career is concerned so we have to rigorously defend it," said Massie.
Graham is due in court Nov. 30.
