Oskaloosa teacher pleads not guilty, asks for jury trial

By WES KAPPELMAN
The Oskaloosa Herald

OSKALOOSA August 19, 2008 10:55 am

— An Oskaloosa Middle School teacher charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse has pleaded not guilty.
The attorney for Jeremy Chamberlin, 31, has also filed requests to waive the preliminary hearing and to have a trial by jury.
In a motion for discovery, filed on Aug. 15 with the other requests, attorney Todd Forsythe asks for access to all statements made by Chamberlin, statements or information obtained from witnesses, examination and inspection of items seized by the state and the results or reports from physical, mental or polygraphic examinations made in connection with the case.
Chamberlin’s preliminary hearing had been scheduled for Aug. 27. He is accused of fondling a 16-year-old girl in September of 2006.
If found guilty he would face a maximum of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine, the limits for an aggravated misdemeanor.
Assault with intent to commit sexual abuse is a class C felony when a serious injury occurs, a class D felony when a non-serious injury occurs and an aggravated misdemeanor when no injury occurs.
Herald staff writer Wes Kappelman can be reached by e-mail at news2@oskyherald.com