Wasatch High coach charged with child abuse appears in court

HEBER CITY — As students continue to show support for a Wasatch High School teacher charged with child abuse, the man's attorney is mulling whether to opt for a hearing on the evidence in the case.

Steve North, 50, is charged with child abuse, a class A misdemeanor, in 4th District Court for an incident in the classroom involving a student on March 7. The teacher and head football coach made an initial appearance in court Wednesday.

At the hearing attorney Scott Card discussed additional evidence he is seeking and set a new hearing for May 13. 

There have been varying reports as to what specifically happened in the classroom, but North was apparently teaching a physical education class when he tried to discipline a disruptive student. 

Card declined to clarify the varying accounts, which range from a simple shove to a beating with a hockey stick. Wasatch High junior Clancy Poulson said Wednesday he was in the classroom when the incident occurred and he believes what he saw didn't amount to child abuse. 

"The kid was being disruptive and Coach tried to take care of it," he said, explaining that North lightly tapped the student on the head with the hockey stick the way you would tap someone on the shoulder.

Poulson previously said the student involved in the incident came to class late and then continued to talk during the lesson, even after North tapped him on the head to remind him to be quiet.

He said North then pushed the student against a wall. Poulson said most of the students at the time, including the one involved, appeared to think little of what had happened. 

He said the student has since left the school. 

North declined to comment at the hearing but spoke through his attorney. He first wanted to thank the students and community members who have supported him.

"And for good reason," Card said. "He's a good coach. He's a good educator."

Card said his client, who has been teaching for close to two decades, had a right as an educator and an obligation to his students, to try and keep his class under control.

"Teachers have the right to teach and students have a right to be taught," Card said.