MANTECA-
Two Manteca High School teachers are in some hot water after a fight at a crab feed.
“They’re saying he got intoxicated and just punched her for no reason, but you know, there’s obviously a story there,” Manteca High School student and junior varsity football player Carlos Molinarez said.
Sean Hogan, 38, and Joshua Farris, 31, are coaches on Manteca High School’s Junior Varsity football team.
On Jan. 25, police were called out to the Manteca Social Hall, where the 44th Annual Crab Feed Dinner Dance for the Nile Garden Community Club was taking place. The event was a fundraiser for Nile Garden Elementary School.
Manteca Police told FOX40 News when they arrived, Farris was holding Hogan back, trying to get him away from security. Farris was arrested for public intoxication and released when sober. Hogan was arrested and booked on simple battery.
Witnesses told police the fight started when Hogan sat on a 54-year-old woman’s bag of food. Hogan tried to put his arm around the woman and apologize, police say, but the woman pushed him away.
Witnesses told police the woman’s 63-year-old husband got involved after Hogan called her a derogatory name.
Police said a scuffle ensued and Hogan assaulted the man. The woman reportedly tried to intervene, throwing her cell pone at Hogan. That’s when witnesses say Hogan punched the woman in the face.
“Well it’s true, I guess, but I don’t think it should define him, you know, as what kind of person he is. He was obviously intoxicated which had a major factor,” Molinarez said.
The Manteca Unified School District would not talk to us on camera, but Superindentent Clark Burke did send us a written statement about the incident:
“In general, pending the results of a police investigation and consequent district notification for misdemeanor charges brought against any district employees for a similar situation, the district would conduct an investigation to determine if any such unlawful action was performed while serving in the capacity of their employment. In turn, the district would need to determine if any such unlawful action was in violation of that employment or if the employees were negligent with their professional responsibilities. None of which has yet to occur in this situation. In any case, the district’s first concern is for the safety of its students, its employees, and the safety of the community at large. As a member of the community, the district wants to support and encourage healthy and safe community activities.”
Nicole Comstock filed this report.
