Keystone Oaks H.S. Teacher Charged With Hitting Female Student

MOUNT LEBANON (KDKA) - Families in the Keystone Oaks School District were recently notified of an incident involving one of the teachers at the district's high school and a student.

The teacher has been charged with harassment, but Mt. Lebanon Police said the behavior was not sexual and was not done out of anger.

"Under Pa. law, anytime someone strikes or shoves a person, harassment is the appropriate charge. And in this case, it wasn't anything as far as a combatant-type thing, it was just juvenile behavior," said Lt. Duane Fisher, of the Mt. Lebanon Police Department.

Fisher added, "This was much more sophomoric in nature, more like a locker room-type thing of striking people; and unfortunately, the teacher just didn't get the clues from the students, and then ultimately injured a student with a bruise left on her arm."

Wood shop teacher Michael Magri, 34, of McMurray, has been accused of striking a juvenile female student with a closed fist and causing a small bruise on her upper arm.

"They were struck by the hand, not with a weapon, or the feet, or anything like that. It was just more like the sophomoric joking around that you would have in a locker room that isn't appropriate in a classroom," said Lt. Fisher.

Police said they investigated multiple complaints of Magri using inappropriate language and hitting himself and other students.

"There were multiple complaints but only one charge was filed, and that seemed to be sufficient for everybody involved," said Lt. Fisher.

Magri has been a teacher with the district for 10 years.

Magri was cited with a summary level harassment charge. He will be sent a summons by mail to appear before a Magisterial District Justice.

In Pennsylvania, a summary offense is the lowest grading for a harassment charge. It can carry a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.

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