/*Brian Calhoun*/ took the witness stand to give his version of what transpired outside his /*Fresno City College*/ classroom in March of this year. "It was very obvious to me, after all my years in education, that she had violated the school policy having to do with inappropriate behavior," testified Calhoun.
Calhoun said he was trying to get the name of the student who cussed at him as she was walking out of class.
Prosecutors say Kevynn Gomez was taking a test past the time her class period ended when Calhoun came in and was verbally upset students were still there. "A very crude young woman as she continued to swear at me," said Calhoun, referring to Gomez. "Her face was screwed up into an angry scowl and she kept advancing backwards from me."
Calhoun testified that he followed the student into the hallway and gently touched her. "I put my hand around her upper arm between the elbow and the shoulder so that I could slow her down or stop her," said Calhoun. But the prosecution argues it was more than just a slight touch.
The March incident escalated and Gomez said she began striking Calhoun in the face to free herself. When she testified in court last week, Gomez said Calhoun pinned her against the wall and slammed her onto the ground. Calhoun said that was not the case. "I put my arms around her and I took her down … I don't know if her feet left the ground or not but she went right down and I laid her down on the ground," said Calhoun.
Calhoun's defense attorney argues he was responding in self-defense after Gomez punched his client.
The jury is expected to get the case after Friday's closing arguments.
