Adamsville Police: McNairy County school board member accused of choking teen co-worker, charged with aggravated assault

Kevin Howell

McNairy County Board of Education member Kevin Howell was charged Monday afternoon with aggravated assault in connection with a reported workplace incident last month where he allegedly put a 17-year-old co-worker in a “choke hold” at an Adamsville business.

An Adamsville Police Department report describes the alleged incident as happening during horseplay between Howell and the minor, and that the minor became very upset following the claimed choke hold. A witness describes the minor yelling, “You liked to have choked me out.”

Howell, 46, is an Adamsville resident, according to the May 19 incident report. He represents Adamsville on the McNairy County school board.

He was issued a criminal summons on the charge of aggravated assault and reported to the Hardin County jail for booking early this afternoon.

Howell was not placed under arrest nor given a bond. He was released immediately after booking and ordered to appear in Hardin County General Sessions Court on July 25.

Reached for comment Monday, Howell said, “I’ve been instructed not to talk about it.”

A person who answered the phone Monday at the office of McNairy County Director of Schools Greg Martin said Martin was not there and could not be reached for comment.

McNairy County School Board Chairman Ricky Whitaker said this afternoon that he had “heard rumors” about the matter, but had yet to speak about it with anyone. He declined further comment at this time.

The owner of the Adamsville business, which is in Hardin County, likewise declined to comment.