Former behavior specialist found not guilty of grabbing Woodland Hills student by the neck

PITTSBURGH — The man seen grabbing a student at a local school district by the neck was just found not guilty.

Joseph Golden III was charged in May in connection with an April 12, 2017 incident at the Rankin Promise School.

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His attorney told Channel 11 it's what happened before the video began that ultimately led to the verdict.

Golden was charged with simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

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"He lost his job for doing his job. That was his job, to maintain order," said Pat Thomassey, his attorney. "I was glad to see this jury said 'enough is enough' for what these kids are doing in school. It's time for some kind of discipline."

Golden was a behavioral specialist in the Woodland Hills School District.

Two witnesses testified the 13-year-old student initiated physical contact with Golden before the video started.

"The most important 11 seconds of the film were missing," Thomassey said. "What happened between Mr. Golden and this child initially, which caused him to put his hands on the child and ultimately his hands slipped off of his chest and onto his neck."

RAW VIDEO: Surveillance video appears to show behavioral specialist grabbing 13-year-old by neck

He admits the video looks bad, but also said it doesn't tell the whole story.

"There was never any indication that he choked him," Thomassey said. "He just more or less carried him back to the room."

Golden lost his job with the school district once the charges were filed.

It's unclear if he will try to get his job back.

Cox Media Group