Wisconsin Teacher Gets No Jail for Abuse - Updated

(Chilton, Wisconsin) Former teacher Mary Berglund pleaded guilty yesterday in Calumet County Court to five misdemeanor battery counts and one count of felony child abuse.

As a result, Berglund was sentenced to three years of probation.

Judge Gary Sharpe deferred judgment on the felony charge, but found her guilty of the misdemeanors.

She faces one year in jail if she violates her probation.

She also has to undergo anger management and any other recommended counseling and participate in 100 hours of community service. She can’t have unsupervised contact with any children under age 12 who are not in her family while on probation.

Since Berglund had no criminal record, Judge Sharpe decided that her offenses didn't warrant prison.

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Wisconsin Teacher Accused of Child Abuse
[Previous 3/17/11 post]
(Appleton, Wisconsin) A 53-year-old special education teacher formerly at Janet Berry Elementary School, Mary Berglund, has been accused of multiple counts of child abuse.

Berglund is charged with 9 counts of physical abuse of child, with dates ranging from September to December 2009.

She is also charged with one count of strangulation and suffocation from January 2011.

According to the criminal complaint, the concerns were brought to the school by a teacher's assistant and lists five child victims, all of whom are described as either non-verbal or low-functioning.

Berglund has a court appearance scheduled for April 18.