Charge Dropped Against Teacher Accused of Biting Student

A teacher one of his students has since been cleared of an assault charge and reinstated with Harford County Public Schools.

, a lawyer for former teacher John Hickey, issued a release this week announcing the outcome.

On June 10, 2011, Hickey was falsely accused of biting a 10-year-old female student on the wrist and was immediately placed on administrative leave, according to the release.

Hickey, a Jarrettsville resident, was issued a criminal summons on a second-degree assault charge in August 2011 based on the allegation. Later that month, recommended Hickey be fired, and the teacher was placed on leave without pay, the release states.

Criminal charges were dropped by the on April 17.  But Hickey, his family and lawyer said it wasn't enough to have the charges dismissed.

"Those assault charges should never have been brought in the first place. That's why we petitioned, and succeeded, in having the charges EXPUNGED," Carey said in the release.

A phone call seeking comment from the state's attorney on why the charge was dropped was not immediately returned.

An independent hearing examiner recommended the school board reinstate Hickey. On June 25, the school board approved the recommendation and restored Hickey's back pay, benefits and seniority, according to the release.

"That was just about as complete an exoneration as we could have wanted. It will never, of course make up for what John Hickey and his wife and family underwent in the past year," Carey said in the release.

Hickey will not return to Fountain Green, but instead teach third-grade at Deerfield Elementary in Edgewood during the coming academic year.