According to The Columbus Dispatch , Sheila Kearns, a substitute teacher is on trial and facing a possible five year prison sentence for showing the 2012 anthology horror film The ABC’s of Death to a Spanish class for which she was substitute teaching. Kearns does not speak Spanish and thus frequently showed films to the class in lieu of providing actual instruction.

Kearns claims that her back was to the screen at the time the film was being played and she was not aware of the violent nature of the picture. She also says that she was under the impression the film was in Spanish–thus providing educational value. Kearns showed the film to students on April 11, 2013 but the trial to determine if she is guilty of several felony counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles began yesterday. Each charge carries a penalty of up to one year in prison.

The school administration caught wind of what was happening when a student reported that Kearns was showing R-rated movies to the class of 14-18 year olds. Several students are expected to testify in open court.

Kearns is clearly guilty of poor judgement and probably deserved to be let go from her position–which she was–but the fact that she is facing criminal charges seems absurd. For her to serve any prison time for this is unthinkable. It seems to me that the justice system should have bigger fish to fry.