An east Tennessee school board member has been charged with assault after telling a teenage girl at a public meeting in April, “God – you’re hot.” Keith Ervin, 59, faces a class B misdemeanour charge under a state statute that prohibits “intentionally or knowingly” causing physical contact that a reasonable person would regard as “extremely offensive or provocative”.
The charge stems from a 2 April meeting of the Washington County school board, where video footage captured Ervin staring at a female student seated beside him, placing his hand on her shoulder, and making the remark. He went on to put his arm around her and ask where she attended school. The student, reported to be a high school senior and board representative, laughed uncomfortably during the exchange.
Prosecutors brought the charge on 18 May, and Ervin was served with a criminal summons ordering him to appear at a hearing tentatively scheduled for 7 August. If convicted, he could face up to six months in jail and a maximum $500 fine.
The student’s father criticised Ervin’s behaviour as “disturbing and inappropriate”, saying neither he nor her mother believed Ervin “should be anywhere near students”. Ervin, in response, said he was not “always good with words” and maintained he would not deliberately offend anyone, although he acknowledged the video looked bad.
Ervin’s fellow board members voted to censure him at a special meeting on 8 April. A Change.org petition calling for the dismissal of both Ervin and superintendent Jerry Boyd has gathered more than 7,400 signatures. At a board meeting on 7 May, the student accused members of cowardice, saying, “I do not forgive you,” and added, “Thank you for teaching me that no one will stand up for me besides myself.”
