Judge claims Katy ISD superintendent was a 'vicious bully' in school

Circuit Court Judge David Carpenter of Alabama's 10th district has accused Katy ISD superintendent Lance Hindt of bullying when the two were classmates at Taylor High School in 1982. Swipe through to see a timeline of the controversy surrounding Hindt. less Circuit Court Judge David Carpenter of Alabama's 10th district has accused Katy ISD superintendent Lance Hindt of bullying when the two were classmates at Taylor High School in 1982. Swipe through to see a ... more Photo: Facebook/Stratford Booster Club Photo: Facebook/Stratford Booster Club Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Judge claims Katy ISD superintendent was a 'vicious bully' in school 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

A judge in Alabama has waded into the drama surrounding Katy ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt, claiming the embattled school administrator was a "vicious bully" when the two were in school together.

Circuit Judge David Carpenter of Alabama's 10th district recalled attending Taylor High School with Hindt in 1982.

"He was physically threatening some of my teammates, just menacing them, standing over them and eventually started throwing weight plates at them, 25-pound weight plates at them," Carpenter told Fox 26. "He liked to brag about beating up other people and at one point he even bragged about beating up a police officer."

EARLIER ACCUSATION: Former student who started viral petition to get Katy ISD's superintendent fired speaks out

Hindt has drawn national scorn after Greg Barrett, a Katy-area businessman, accused him of bullying when the two were classmates roughly 30 years ago. The claim was made during a public school board meeting March 19.

Barrett claims Hindt beat him up in the restroom at school. Hindt has since issued a statement saying he didn't remember Barrett and that the claim of bullying "simply isn't true."

A request for comment has been placed with Hindt and Carpenter.

Hindt sent a letter a letter to all Katy ISD employees Monday, which was obtained by Covering Katy. In it, Hindt apologies to the district for all the attention these accusations have created.

"It is unfortunate that half-truths, viral videos, edited tape, false statements, and gotcha moments are a part of our modern mainstream news and social media culture," Hindt wrote. "Although I do not believe the attacks on our great school district, our school board or me are over, I remain steadfast in my commitment to Katy ISD."

Hindt wrote that he had changed a lot over the past 30 years. In 1992, while listening to a sermon from Dr. Ed Young, Hindt said he found religion.

"Knowing that my past had been washed away and I was a renewed person, I hitched a ride on a wonderful journey that has led me to where I am today," Hindt wrote. "When I was young and dumb – I did dumb things. Because of great teachers, coaches, administrators and mentors in my life, and the unconditional love of my parents, I was able to overcome, learn and grow from my childhood mistakes."

Former Katy ISD student Nitant Patel, 19, has since started a Change.org petition calling for Hindt's firing.

The petition, which also references a now-dismissed 1983 lawsuit claiming an 18-year-old Hindt severely beat another man, has collected more than 3,100 signatures as of Monday morning.

A competing petition with the title "We, the community within Katy ISD, support our Superintendent Dr. Lance Hindt" has also been started on Change.org.

The purpose of that petition it to show "the school board and employees of Katy ISD that we strongly support Dr. Hindt and we know that he is the person that needs to sit in his current position of Superintendent," it states. So far it has collected 1,700 signatures as of Monday morning.

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @fernalfonso.