Former North Bend teacher charged with felony count

NORTH BEND, Neb. -- A former North Bend Elementary School P.E. teacher has been charged after he allegedly encouraged students to punch their second-grade classmate.

50-year-old Craig Schmeckpeper is charged with one count of committing intentional child abuse.

Last month, deputies with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office responded to North Bend Elementary School after an official reported Schmeckpeper put his hands on an eight-year-old boy and then encouraged other students to punch or hit the student.

In addition to the school official who reported the incident, Dodge County authorities stated that they received at three additional witness accounts corroborating the student's version of events.

A warrant for his arrest was signed on Tuesday. Schmeckpeper would face up to three years in prison if convicted.

Schmeckpeper ultimately resigned from his position rather than be fired, according to the a search warrant in the case.