A Sterling teacher pled not guilty in Lee County court yesterday to 4 counts of attempted 1st degree murder following an altercation with his boyfriend.
26-year old Mario Garnica, who teaches bilingual education at Jefferson Elementary School in Sterling, has also been charged with 4 counts of aggravated domestic battery along with 2 counts of armed violence and battery.
Authorities say that Garnica allegedly stabbed 29-year old Ben Brainerd of Dixon in the neck with a knife along with beating him on the head, shoulders, and arms with a metal pipe. Brainerd received medical treatment at an area hospital and was released.
Garnica, who is on paid administrative leave from the Sterling school district, was arrested on February 3rd. The incident took place on January 19th. He remains in jail in lieu of a $300,000 bond.
Garnica returns to court for a hearing on March 12th in Dixon.
