Hernando teacher charged with domestic battery

SPRING HILL — A teacher at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics was arrested Sunday and charged with one count of domestic battery on his wife, deputies said.

David Barrett, 34, who teaches physical education, remained in the Hernando County Jail Monday.

A sheriff’s report said that Barrett and his wife got into a verbal argument at their Spring Hill home and then he got on top of her while she was lying on the floor. She told deputies he got mad when she told him to get off her. When he did, he jabbed one of his fingers into her chest, the report said.

Barrett went into the bathroom and was running water at the sink when his wife called him a derogatory name and he threw water on her, the report said.

When Barrett went into the living room, the wife got a self-defense stun gun and told her husband she would stun him if he touched her again. She said she was standing in the doorway of their master bedroom and he approached her, grabbed the door handle and slammed the door on her right hand, the report said.

The wife left the home and called the sheriff’s office. Deputies saw she had injuries consistent with her statement, including a red mark on her chest.

Barrett told deputies that his wife was chasing him around the house with a stun gun. He admitted to throwing water on her because she was calling him names and enticing him, the report said.

Eric Williams, public information officer with the school district, said Barrett has not been relieved of teaching duties and is scheduled to report back to work for the new school year next week. The incident will be reviewed through the proper channels to determine if any disciplinary action will be taken, Williams said.