Corpun file 4532
The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, 19 January 1985
Principal Arrested in Paddling Case
By Jim Etter
The high school principal here has been arrested and released on a complaint of child abuse following the paddling of a teen-age girl who was accused of smoking, authorities confirmed Friday.
Jim Mihura was arrested Jan. 7 on suspicion of child abuse after the parents of the girl complained about the alleged incident Jan. 3, said Noble County Sheriff Ron McGee.
The girl, who is 17, wasn't named by authorities.
McGee said Mihura was released the same day he was arrested pending an investigation into allegations that he applied "excessive" zeal when paddling the girl.
Assistant District Attorney Dan Allen said Friday that he expects to consider the evidence and decide sometime next week whether to file criminal charges.
Mihura, who lives in Stillwater, was reportedly attending a school basketball game at Wynona and couldn't be reached for comment.
McGee said the girl, who reportedly was spanked with a wooden paddle, sustained bruises.
"A teacher had seen her take a drag off a cigarette at a basketball game a night or two before, and the teacher told her to report to the principal's office," McGee said, adding the alleged paddling soon followed.
