ELYRIA, Ohio — Jessica Houze, the parent of a student at Hamilton Elementary in Elyria accused of spraying the principal of the school with mace in April, has been indicted on criminal charges.
Lorain County records show that Houze was indicted on two counts of fifth-degree felonious assault and one count of fourth-degree misdemeanor trespassing on June 1. During an appearance in Elyria Municipal Court in April, Houze waived her right to a preliminary trial.
The charges against Houze stem from an incident that occurred on April 18, when officers were dispatched to Hamilton Elementary for a report of a disturbance. Prior to their arrival, the officers were advised that the principal of the school had been sprayed with mace and that the subject had left the scene.
Upon arrival, officers met with the school's principal, who said that he was greeting students in the hallway when he observed a female parent yelling obscenities at the school's assistant principal and another school administrator at a side door to the building. During this time, the female assistant principal was attempting to prevent the parent from entering the school.
The principal approached the scene, recognizing the female parent as Houze. Houze is alleged to have continued yelling obscenities at the principal and stated "that's the guy I want."
As Houze realized that the principal was pulling the outer doors of the school shut to prevent her from entering, she allegedly switched her keys/mace from her right hand to her left hand and sprayed the principal in the face with the mace before leaving the area. The officers observed that the principal was still dealing with the effects of having been sprayed.
Officers interviewed the assistant principal and school administrator and reviewed security footage that showed the principal attempting to shut the door before being sprayed by Houze. Police also noted that at no time did any school official touch or push Houze.
Later that morning, Houze turned herself into the Elyria Police Station, where she was charged with assault of a school officer and criminal trespass. She was also charged with attempted assault for allegedly swinging her hand with the mace and pointing it at the assistant principal, who was seven months pregnant at the time of the incident.
You can view security footage from the incident in the video player below.