I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, the fact that a communications professor at a state university could and wold oppress the first amendment and media coverage of a campus protest or that the administration of that university would support her. Well, the event went viral so the rest of the country must have thought it was pretty egregious as well. Now it seems that Melissa Click, the professor in question, is not going to get off scot-free. She was charged with a Class-C felony for her antics, thanks to some legislators that were kind of ticked off at paying her salary with public funds only to enable her to conduct herself so badly.
Remember this? This is how it started.
ABC17: MU Police gave documents to prosecutors on its investigation into Click back in November.
Click was seen in several videos confronting journalists and blocking their access to protests on the MU campus through physical and verbal intimidation.
The MU School of Journalism revoked her courtesy title following the incident.
Some MU faculty voiced their support for Click in a signed letter, but several lawmakers called for her termination earlier this month.
Columbia State Representative Caleb Jones told ABC17 News the charges are appropriate. “While the University of Missouri seems to have no accountability the judicial system in Missouri does,” said Jones.
Last week, a member of the UM Board of Curators joined the call for her firing.
You can read and watch complete coverage on the MU campus protests here.
The punishment for third degree assault is listed as up to 15 days in jail and up to a $500 fine according to several defense attorney websites.
The following is a description of Class C Assault from Missouri State Statutes:
565.070. 1. A person commits the crime of assault in the third degree if:
(1) The person attempts to cause or recklessly causes physical injury to another person; or
(2) With criminal negligence the person causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon; or
(3) The person purposely places another person in apprehension of immediate physical injury; or
(4) The person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death or serious physical injury to another person; or
(5) The person knowingly causes physical contact with another person knowing the other person will regard the contact as offensive or provocative; or
(6) The person knowingly causes physical contact with an incapacitated person, as defined in section 475.010, which a reasonable person, who is not incapacitated, would consider offensive or provocative.
2. Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4 of this section, assault in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.
3. A person who violates the provisions of subdivision (3) or (5) of subsection 1 of this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
4. A person who has pled guilty to or been found guilty of the crime of assault in the third degree more than two times against any family or household member as defined in section 455.010 is guilty of a class D felony for the third or any subsequent commission of the crime of assault in the third degree when a class A misdemeanor. The offenses described in this subsection may be against the same family or household member or against different family or household members.