Teacher accused of student assault

ST. LOUIS -- A former St. Louis teacher faces charges for allegedly grabbing the neck of an 8-year-old pupil.

Timothy Simpson, 41, of Arnold, was charged with misdemeanor assault for an incident July 6 at Garfield School, prosecutors said Tuesday. The pupil, a boy, was not seriously hurt.

If convicted, Simpson could face up to a year in jail.

Police reports said the 6-1, 250-pound teacher lifted the student by the neck as punishment.

Simpson was suspended in July and has since quit. He moved to Joplin, but state education records indicate he is not currently teaching in Missouri, KSDK-TV reported.

A second teacher is under investigation for allegedly witnessing the incident but failing to report it.