by Raymond Neupert

MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) – Investigators in Lincoln County have referred a UW-Stevens Point faculty member to prosecutors on battery charges for allegedly punching a student in the face this summer.

Investigators forwarded their recommendation for battery and disorderly conduct charges against Meghan Buckley to the district attorney’s office this morning, Sheriff Jeff Jaeger confirmed in an e-mail message to WSAU News.

According to reports, Buckley led students on a summer field trip July 12th to a forest in Lincoln County. She briefly left a bus to look for students who had not returned from their work marking property lines in the town of Harrison.

When she got back on the bus, student Wesley Shaw started clapping and Buckley allegedly responded by punching the 23-year-old Shaw three to five times in the face in his seat on the bus.

“I have been advised, since this is under investigation, to not discuss any details of the allegations made by any students,” Buckley said in an e-mail message to WSAU News. “Therefore, I will allow the authorities to fully investigate this matter and I have no further comment.”

Shaw has filed a temporary restraining order against Buckley. A hearing on the order is set for Monday.