in paddling incident

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Feb. 2, 2000 10 PM

A Charles Henderson Middle School coach has found himself facing a court battle for a November paddling incident.

The father of the child who was paddled claims Coach Forrest Lee took punishment too far.

Barry Barron and his wife, Dorothy, and their 12-year-old son will all be in Troy Municipal Court on Feb. 16 as the case is heard.

Lee, Charles Henderson Middle School athletic director, has been accused of leaving the boy with bruises to the buttocks and causing the child a sprained back.

Lee, who was charged with third-degree assault, has pleaded innocent.

Barry Barron said he does not have a problem with paddling and admits his son has been paddled before. But he does have a problem with what he alleges happened on Nov. 12 of last year.

According to Dorothy Barron, her son "had a fair share of paddling" when he was in elementary school.

Still, they believe the November incident took punishment too far.

Lee’s attorney, Allen Jones, was not available for comment on the matter.

Originally scheduled to go to trial Jan. 26, the case was continued and will be heard later this month.