Judge Rules Teacher Innocent Of Battery Count

GONZALES, La. (AP) — A judge has found an East Ascension High School math teacher not guilty of a misdemeanor battery charge involving an incident with a male student in May.

Police had arrested Chad Goulas of Gonzales after a physical altercation between Goulas and the student.

The Advocate reports Ascension Parish Court Judge Marilyn Lambert earlier this month heard testimony from Goulas; the student; and two officers. She also reviewed the surveillance video and pictures. She ruled for Goulas after the one-hour trial.

District Attorney Ricky Babin says prosecutors felt the surveillance video showed they had sufficient evidence to prosecute in the case.