Woman says Riverside High coach struck her son

CHARLESTON -- A Kanawha County woman is suing over claims her son was struck by a teacher.

M.L., as mother and next friend of John Doe, filed a lawsuit May 28 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Kanawha County Board of Education and Paul Trey Barcus III, citing assault.

According to the complaint, the unnamed minor said something at the Riverside High School boys' baseball team practice March 6, that the coach, Barcus, also a teacher at the school, found disrespectful, and he struck the minor in the face.

The complaint states an anonymous report of the incident was made to the administration and the minor denied it out of fear and embarrassment on March 13, but transferred out of the classes taught by the coach on March 17.

M.L. says Barcus resigned as coach on March 28, but remained as a teacher despite previous complaints of his conduct toward school-age children, and was informed by the principal the matter couldn't be discussed with her, the mother of the minor. Barcus is accused of assault and battery.

Riverside's baseball team just concluded its season, losing in the state Class AAA championship game to Hurricane.

M.L. is seeking damages in an amount to be determined by the court.

She is being represented in the case by attorney Travis A. Griffith of Olivio & Griffith PLLC. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-989