BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - — A Colorado middle school teacher accused of assaulting a student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance has pleaded guilty and has retired from teaching.
Boulder County District Attorney's spokeswoman Catherine Olguin says 60-year-old Karen Smith pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of child abuse resulting in injury.
The Daily Camera reports the former Lafayette teacher was sentenced to an 18-month deferred sentence, which means the guilty plea will be withdrawn if she can fulfill the terms of the sentence and avoid another criminal case during that time.
Smith's lawyer didn't return requests for comment. Boulder Valley School District spokesman Randy Barber says Smith retired on Aug. 20. She had been with the school district for 20 years.
