Denny Peterson, Calif. teacher who dragged student to swimming pool, charged with misdemeanor (Video)

STOCKTON, Calif. — Denny Peterson, a physical education teacher at Edison High School in Stockton, California, was charged with misdemeanor corporal injury to a child last week for dragging the teen girl across a concrete floor in an attempt to get her into the pool. A cell phone video of the August incident has been uploaded and viewed over 1.5 million times, and the resulting backlash could cost the 10-year veteran teacher his job.

Denny Peterson had been supervising students in the pool in August. 14-year-old Sandra Garcia got into the pool, but then reportedly got out because she didn't want to get her hair wet, as she had an event to attend later that night. At that point the video captured Peterson dragging her towards the pool against her will.

"Regardless of her participation (in the class) it should disgust you how this man put his hands on a 14-year-old girl," Gilbert Somera, a lawyer who is representing the Garcia family, told Sacramento News 10. "She said multiple times, 'My top is falling down.'"

Somera said that the girl had multiple scratches and bruises from being dragged across the concrete floor. He said that he is preparing a claim and possibly a lawsuit regarding the incident.

"When you have been bullied by an adult in front of your classmates, it places you in a very distressing situation," the attorney said. "It's embarrassing for a young girl like that."

Peterson, who has never had any complaints in his 10-year tenure as an educator, was put on paid administrative leave for a month following the incident. When the charge was filed last week he was again placed on paid leave. If he is convicted he could lose his job.

"SUSD has taken appropriate action in this case. The teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave per district policy," the district said in a statement.