Teacher Weighing Over 350 Lbs May Avoid Jail Time After Stepping On Students During Lockdown Drill

A Minnesota teacher who admitted to stepping on his students as punishment may not get any jail time. Jason Lowell Rogers appeared in court July 28 to face multiple charges stemming from a 2025 incident which took place during a lockdown drill in an Underwood, Minnesota school. He entered a guilty plea, but the judge granted him a stay of adjudication, which means he will be put on probation and the case could be dismissed if he meets all of the terms set out for him, Law & Crime reported.

After the lockdown drill, one of Rogers’ students complained that the 350 pound man had stepped on his back with both feet for about 10 seconds, causing the student to cry out in pain. When law enforcement interviewed Rogers, 49, the following day, he said he “didn’t feel the class was taking the drill seriously.”

Rogers was charged with malicious punishment of a child and placed on administrative leave. Later, he admitted to stepping on two more students, and two more counts of the charge were added.

For his probation, Rogers must surrender his Minnesota teaching license, complete an anger management assessment, perform 90 hours of community service, write letters of apology to each victim, and pay $2,250 in fines and fees. He is also not allowed to teach in any other state.