Naperville teacher found guilty of slapping student

April 27

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Friday that a Naperville teacher has been found guilty of slapping a student at Neuqua Valley High School.

Akela J. Dillon, 26, of Lisle, was charged last week with one count of misdemeanor battery. She was found guilty of the Class A misdemeanor at the conclusion of a bench trial Friday morning.

Judge Michael Powers sentenced Dillon to 12 months of court supervision and ordered her to undergo anger management counseling. She must complete the counseling by Oct. 26. In addition, the judge ordered her not to have contact with the student and to pay $250 in fines and costs.

Dillon slapped a 16-year-old boy in the face on April 3. The incident occurred in a hallway at Neuqua Valley High School.

“Teachers must serve as role models to ensure that violence of any kind is not encouraged in our schools,” Glasgow said. “This incident involved contact of an insulting or provoking nature but no bodily harm. The sentence handed down by Judge Powers is appropriate given the nature of the offense.”

Glasgow credited the Naperville Police Department for its thorough review of the incident. The state’s attorney’s office charged the misdemeanor battery after reviewing the department’s reports as well as a security video from the school hallway.