PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Hillsborough County middle school teacher who was charged with domestic battery in March 2022, was arrested again on Tuesday, according to the Gulfport Police Department.
Authorities said 56-year-old Richard Pokorny, who teaches science at Greco Middle School, was intoxicated Tuesday around 1:15 a.m. when he confronted the victim at their home near the intersection of Gray Street South and 11th Avenue South in Pinellas County.
Officers said the victim tried to call 911 using their cellphone when Pokorny grabbed it. That’s when the victim pulled out a gun and fired three shots toward Pokorny.
Authorities said the victim was “fearing for her life” when they fired the gun.
Pokorny then ran from the home and was found with the victim’s phone sometime later.
Pokorny was charged with tampering with a witness and violation of pretrial release. Bond was set at $35,000.
According to Hillsborough County Public Schools, Pokorny was first hired by the district in January 1996. He will not be allowed back on any school campus until his next course of action is determined, district officials told News Channel 8.
“If you’re in your own home and someone’s breaking in you have the right to defend yourself with deadly force,” said Roger Futerman, a Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Attorney.
Futerman is not involved with this case but says Florida has strong self-defense rights.
“She’s got every right and that’s why she wasn’t arrested for firing a gun to use deadly force,” he said.
Futerman said it’s a crime to violate a no contact order, especially in a domestic case.
“There are additional protections in your own home you have heightened levels of self-defense rights.”
