Created: 4/10/2007 11:24:27 PM 
By WLTX-TV Columbia
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC -- Lexington County Sheriff James Metts had to be careful when choosing his words Tuesday afternoon. The easy part was confirming that there had been a charge of simple assault and battery filed by a 17 year-old White Knoll High School student against his teacher. And the sheriff confirmed that the teacher is Harold Skinner, a drama instructor.
But it was the nature of the incident that had the sheriff measuring every word he said.
"The teacher, Mr. Harold Skinner, grabbed a student by putting his hands on his torso from the rear, and then thrust his pelvic into the student several times, acting as a gorilla would act under a sexual type situation," said Sheriff Metts.
The investigation report says it happened in a drama class at White Knoll High School, where the students and teachers were working on improvisational skills. In particular, they were practicing how gorillas might act.
Metts says, that's when Skinner performed the questionable improv act on the student in front of several classmates.
"It was very distasteful to the student and embarrassing to the student to have the teacher put his hands on his torso and then thrust his pelvic into him a number of times in the rear," said Sheriff Metts.
We spoke to Skinner by phone Tuesday evening. He declined an on-camera interview, telling us he doesn't believe his case is newsworthy. But it is that same case that, Sheriff Metts says, could potentially spell up to a month of jail time for Skinner.
Skinner says he has requested a jury trial in this case. The 45 year-old says he doesn't know when that trial will begin.
Lexington School District One officials tell us Mr. Skinner has been placed on administrative leave until the case is resolved.
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