Williamson School Board OKs Paying Director's Legal Fees

FRANKLIN, TN -- The Williamson County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to cover the legal fees Director of Schools Mike Looney's incurred in his defense against assault charges.

The school district will pay the $4,000, as it determined the legal defense fell under expenses Looney took on in connection with his job duties.

In April, Judge Tom Taylor found that neither a 17-year-old Franklin High student nor her mother were in imminent fear of a non-consensual touch, thus the accusations against Looney stemming from a February 20 incident at the school did not meet the legal standard for assault.

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Looney denied the allegations from the beginning, a sentiment shared by Franklin High Principal Willie Dickerson, who testified the charges were "a bunch of a bull."

In a statement issued after the incident, Franklin Police said Looney tried to force a student out of the school and into his car.

"Yesterday, Franklin Police Officers and paramedics were dispatched to Franklin High School for a reported psychological emergency. While working with the student, the student's mother, and school staff to transport the student to the hospital, Dr. Mike Looney, Williamson County Schools Superintendent, abruptly entered the conference room, grabbed the student by her arm, and forced her out of the school and to his vehicle," FPD said in a statement. "Officers intervened and had on-scene paramedics transport the student to the emergency room for evaluation."

The student's mother later filed an assault charge of her own.

Photo via Williamson County Schools