'Substantial bruising': Texas high school principal arrested on assault charge in paddling

A principal at a public high school in northeast Texas has been arrested in connection with the paddling of a teenage girl at the start of the school year.

Overton High School Principal Jeffery Darryl Hogg was arrested Wednesday on one count of assault causing bodily injury stemming from the Aug. 14 spanking at the school about 120 miles southeast of Dallas, court records show.

Hogg, who hadn't been formally charged by Friday, has an unlisted phone number and it's unclear whether he has an attorney.

A Rusk County Sheriff’s Office deputy wrote that Hogg struck a student with a wooden paddle at school as punishment and "hit her with such force that she had bruising at least 48 hours after the paddling," according to an arrest affidavit obtained by USA TODAY on Friday.

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Three strikes 'on the butt'

The girl's mother, who was in the room at the time of the paddling, reported it to deputies the following day, according to the affidavit, which doesn't say why the student was being punished.

The mother had given the school permission to use corporal punishment on her daughter which included three strikes "on the butt," according to the affidavit.

But after the second hit, the student told the principal she did not want the last strike, the affidavit said. The deputy wrote that the student said "the second hit was harder than the first hit and she had never hurt like that."

Hogg then reportedly told the girl “it would be a shame to have to go to (in-school suspension) when she only had one lick left,” the affidavit said.

After agreeing to take the third paddle, the affidavit continues, the student took photos throughout the day of the developing bruises.

The next day, the student was interviewed by the local Child Advocacy Center and a nurse examined the bruises, according to the affidavit. After at least 32 hours, the nurse noted, the student suffered “substantial bruising, swelling and heat" where she had been paddled.

Punishment consistent with 'physical abuse'

Photos of the student’s injuries were sent to a pediatrician for evaluation and the doctor told deputies Tuesday that “physical punishment that results in injuries that last longer than 24 hours is consistent with child physical abuse," according to the affidavit.

A Rusk County jail spokesperson said Hogg was booked into the jail Wednesday and posted a $2,000 bond.

Hogg has not been formally charged with the crime, Rusk County District Court Clerk Terri Willard said Friday.

Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY Friday morning.

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'The student had a choice'

Nearly two dozen states including Texas currently allow corporal punishment in schools.

Overton County School District's superintendent could not immediately be reached Friday morning.

One day after the spanking, the district posted at statement on its Facebook page regarding "a recent student discipline issue."

According to the post, a female teacher also witnessed the spanking with the girl's mother.

“After each swat, the student had a choice of whether to continue,” the Aug. 16 post reads. “The student did consider discontinuing and serving (in-school suspension) instead, but twice, the parent encouraged the student to just keep going and ‘get it over with.’ The principal remained empathetic and calm throughout, checking with the student before proceeding. At no time, did the parent or witnessing teacher express any concern that the swats were too harsh or overly aggressive.”

The district continued to say that "there is never an intent to harm students."

"Any administered consequence is in an effort to help students learn, grow and make positive choices," the post said. "(The district) will look deeper into this incident, and reflect on our current policies and any indicated modifications that may help us better serve our students and community."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior correspondent for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund.