MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—A teacher at Hayes Elementary School in Marion has been charged with felony assault following an incident that was captured on video. Jodi Grafmiller, 49, faces a fourth-degree felony charge after reportedly slapping a seven-year-old student who has non-verbal autism as they exited the school.
The incident came to light when another individual witnessed the event and reported it to school officials. Initially, Grafmiller was charged with two misdemeanors, but Marion Prosecutor Ray Grogan escalated the case to a grand jury, leading to the felony charge. Under Ohio law, assaults against functionally impaired individuals by caregivers are classified as felonies, which significantly increases the severity of the charge.
In response to the allegations, the Marion City School District has placed Grafmiller on administrative leave while they conduct their own investigation into the incident.
Grafmiller is scheduled for arraignment in the Marion County Common Pleas Court on December 2 at 1 PM, where she will appear before Magistrate Michael Bear.
Marion County Now will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.