Prosecutors in abuse case seek teacher's prior history

A Cook County assistant state's attorney plans to request more information about the arrest report and criminal history of a former teacher accused of mistreating three special education students at Robert Frost Junior High in Schaumburg.

Patrick McCarthy, 31, appeared at the Rolling Meadows court facility Wednesday facing allegations that he pushed a student face-first into a metal cabinet, tied a student to a chair with a jump rope and forced another student to wear a weighted vest and jump for 40 minutes on a trampoline.

McCarthy has been charged with three counts of aggravated battery and one count of unlawful restraint stemming from the alleged incidents.

Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Cathy Nauheimer said in court Wednesday she plans to ask the Chicago Police Department for more information about a battery charge McCarthy faced in 1998.

The charge was later dismissed, according to court records.

After court Wednesday, McCarthy said he was "looking forward to a trial so the truth can come out." He declined to comment further.