| Melissa Postalwait, 28, the former chairman of the Clay-Roane Public Service District has been found guilty of battery for slapping PSD board member Susan Beard from Roane County.
Postelwait was found guilty after a trial before Clay Magistrate Jeff Boggs. She was fined $200 plus $153.50 in court costs and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Her jail sentence was suspended in lieu of proof that she had completed an anger management course.
The slapping incident took place in April after a PSD meeting in Clay. Postelwait was apparently upset when Beard questioned her about board finances.
Postelwait claimed that Beard had laughed and cursed at her.
"It was the first time in my life that anybody had hit me," Beard told Spencer Newspapers. "I had been raised to turn the other cheek, but I don't think that would have been productive in this situation. I was just shocked."
According to The Clay Communicator, Beard testified that she had not threatened or tried to provoke Postelwait. She did say that she had asked questions about finances and provided public information to a newspaper reporter about payments to board members.
Clay County Commissioner Peter Triplett, testified that Postelwait screamed obscenities at Beard and that Beard was backing away when Postelwait slapped her.
The Clay Commission is still seeking to remove Postelwait from the board.
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