RANKIN, PA (WTAE/CNN) - Surveillance video shows a school employee in Pennsylvania lifting a student off the ground by his neck.
That man is now facing charges.
The video shows the 13-year-old boy's feet dangling as he was lifted off the ground and carried down the school hallway.
The man grabbing him was identified as Joseph Golden III, a behavior specialist at the Rankin Promise School.
Golden had his hands around the boy's neck.
Golden's lawyer, Patrick Thomassey, says Golden was doing his job.
"The kid didn't go to the hospital," he said. "He didn't go to the doctors. He told the principal he wasn't hurt. This isn't a simple assault."
Golden was in court Thursday to face charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault.
He covered his face with a folder and climbed a hill to avoid tv reporters.
Rankin Promise is a Woodland Hills school to teach kids with behavioral issues.
Surveillance cameras inside the school captured the video.
Golden's lawyer says this came after the boy repeatedly disobeyed directions.
"This young man left class two or three times," the lawyer said. "He returned him two or three times. And then, you know, the kid finally just says, 'I'm gonna do what I want.'"
Even though the boy was not hurt during this, Woodland Hills officials vow to fire Golden based on the video.
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