US teacher jailed for dragging 14-yr-old girl into pool during P.E. class

June 19, 2015 5:14 PM

A physical education teacher has been jailed for dragging 14-year-old girl into a school swimming pool during a Physical Education class.

Gym teacher Denny Peterson

The incident was recorded on cell phone video.

Denny Peterson was on Thursday sentenced to 10 days in jail, three years of probation and one year in child abuse treatment program after pleading guilty to battery in May.

San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Elton Grau said the treatment program was an important part of the sentence that would help Peterson.

"In my career, people get worse and worse, if they don't treated well," Grau explained.

"I thought the crux is anger management -- he can't control his emotions and feelings --and a child abuse treatment program would be more appropriate."

Peterson will start his sentence at the end of June.