What to Know
We never forget our favorite teachers, the ones who make learning fun and exciting. We also remember the ones we didn’t like, whose classrooms seemed more like jail cells. Many teachers do their best to make school a place students want to be, but sometimes things get a little too casual.
A South Carolina high school student and her teacher, 29-year-old Marlin Roberts, allegedly played a little too hard in the classroom, landing Roberts behind bars.
Roberts and the student engaged in “horseplay.”
WACH reported the Richland Sheriff’s Department became aware of an incident involving Roberts, a teacher at Spring Valley High School in the Richland School District, around 11 a.m. on November 3, 2026.
The teacher reportedly “began to horseplay” with the 15-year-old female student, who jokingly tried a karate-type kick before falling to the floor. Roberts allegedly dragged her across the floor.
The student and her parents reported the incident.
The teenage girl allegedly suffered an abrasion from the altercation. Her parents reported the incident to the school, and deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation, per WIS.
Roberts reportedly admitted to what happened, and deputies arrested him and took him to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He faces a charge of third-degree assault.
The school district addressed the incident with parents.
Per a letter obtained by WIS, Dr. Paul T. Dobyns of the Richland School District Two informed parents of the teacher’s arrest, giving few details.
“I want to make you aware of an incident involving a former employee today that resulted in an arrest. While we cannot share additional details due to the privacy of those involved, please know that we are taking this matter seriously, following district policy, and working with the appropriate district personnel. We remain committed to ensuring that our school is a safe and supportive environment for all students,” the district shared.
The incident caused quite a stir online.
Some think Roberts took it too far, but not enough for an assault charge.
“How did the teacher get assault charged is the student tried to ‘PLAY’ karate kick the teacher and he dragged her across the floor after preventing any kind of ‘PLAY or FAKE’ assault on him?” One person asked on Facebook.
This person agreed that the student isn’t innocent.
“Yea if the student agreed they were playing and they weren’t hurt, I can’t be mad at that. We use to play fight with a lot of our teachers back in the day. Like literally jump them. Nothing inappropriate, but times different. I don’t think he deserved to go to jail or charged for it. Possibly suspended or fired. Not jail time,” they commented.
Others think there is a time and a place for fun, but a grown man horseplaying with a student isn’t it.
“Bro wtf lmaooo he play too much,” someone wrote.
This person thinks the teenager might have tried to hurt Roberts.
“’Jokingly’ stop trying to soften the story. This student most likely did it in a disrespectful manner otherwise this would not be a story and he would not be arrested for assault,” they commented.
As of November 6, Roberts’ name remains on the school’s website in the faculty directory.
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