Explorer K-8 employee charged with domestic battery
SPRING HILL –
A wrist slap caused a school district employee to go to jail, but her job appears safe.
Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office were called shortly after 6:15 p.m. Friday to the McDonald’s at 13100 Cortez Blvd. following reports of a woman assaulting a man.
Beth Michelle Kemper, 34, of 5156 Florentine Court in Spring Hill, was charged with domestic battery and taken to the Hernando County Jail.
Her husband, Matthew Kemper, a Pasco County firefighter, told deputies he was struck by his wife when she tried to get his cell phone, according to an arrest report.
The suspect became enraged when she discovered her husband was on the phone with his girlfriend while the two were in the restaurant, deputies said.
The report revealed the couple are in the midst of a divorce.
Beth Kemper is an administrator at Explorer K-8 and is the daughter of Dianne Bonfield, the vice chairwoman of the Hernando County School Board.
Kemper is employed as a secretary.
Kemper said she slapped the phone out of her husband’s hand, but called it an accident, according to the report.
Deputies said Kemper told them she was only trying to grab his arm so she could remove the phone from his hand.
Kemper was held at the jail during the weekend without bond.
An employee with the school district’s human resources office said Kemper was still actively employed and had not been suspended. She has been with the district for 12 years.
Florida law states teachers must report all charges involving crimes against children or involving controlled substances within two days of their arrests. The same rule applies for all criminal convictions.
Amendments to the law exist in various school districts. Hernando County Superintendent Bryan Blavatt said all education professionals, not just teachers, are required to report criminal charges to their supervisors.
That applies to all charges, felonies and misdemeanors, he said.
Blavatt, after checking with human resources, said Kemper followed the policy.
“It’s a prudent thing to have everyone in our district do that,” he said.
Explorer K-8 Principal John Stratton declined to comment and referred all inquiries to the superintendent.
Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or [email protected].
