Elyria woman who pepper-sprayed principal at Hamilton Elementary pleads guilty to felony charges

An Elyria woman who pepper-sprayed the principal of Hamilton Elementary School while trying to get into the school in April has pleaded guilty to two felony assault charges. Jessica Houze, 28, of Middle Avenue, had been scheduled for trial in Lorain County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday morning. Judge Chris Cook was about to have jurors brought to his seventh-floor courtroom when Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Griffin and defense attorney Jeanette Robinson told him they had reached a plea agreement. Houze pleaded guilty to two fifth-degree felony assault charges. A misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge was dropped by the prosecution. Cook accepted the plea, found Houze guilty and scheduled her sentencing for March 25. There is no agreed-upon sentence, he said, but Houze could receive up to two years in prison at sentencing. "I'm not saying that's going to happen, but she needs to know that," Cook said. Houze remains free on bond. Griffin said the two victims in the case were likely to give statements at Houze's sentencing hearing. Until Tuesday, Houze had been forbidden from being within 500 feet of any Elyria school properties by order of the Elyria Municipal Court. Cook modified that order, saying Houze can't go into the school unless invited by school personnel but may drop off her child outside the school. "As long as she doesn't go into the building or have contact with the personnel at the school," dropping her child off outside the school is permitted, he said. Background Houze tried to get into Hamilton Elementary School at 1215 Middle Ave. through an unauthorized entrance off 13th Street on April 18. She was "arguing and yelling obscenities" at Assistant Principal Katie Huff in front of students, according to a police report. Principal Joel Melvin heard the commotion and tried to pull the doors shut. That's when Houze sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. "That's the guy I want!" Houze shouted before Melvin tried to pull the doors shut and she sprayed him, according to the police report. Melvin went home to shower and change clothes but returned to school later that day. Huff did not have to leave school. Houze turned herself in to police two hours after the incident, which was captured on school security cameras. She was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor and was indicted by a grand jury on similar charges in June. The school was placed on a "hold" that morning, with school business continuing as usual but no one being allowed to enter or leave the school. That was lifted after Houze turned herself in. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.