Sometimes the irony of a situation hits you over the head and renders you nearly speechless. Like when a University of Florida law professor — noted for his work in the area of children’s rights and the associate director of the Center on Children and Families — gets arrested for child abuse.
The limited details available from the Gainsville police report only ups the intrigue factor. The Gainsville Sun reports the frustratingly meager facts:
Joseph Steven Jackson, 59, of Gainesville, tried to punch the child, a girl in her early teens, in the face during an argument, but the girl backed away as he swung, the arrest report says. The strike was a glancing blow, and the victim was not injured.
Jackson told police he swung at her face and missed before swinging again and striking the girl’s face, according to GPD. He said he punched the victim in the back as she ran away from him.
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A school spokesperson said Jackson has been put on administrative leave.
UF law professor arrested on child abuse charge [The Gainsville Sun]
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).