A Klein ISD substitute teacher has been charged in an assault last Oct. 8 of three 7-year-old students at Epps Island Elementary School.

John Ricardo Nevers, 53, was accused of assaulting the three boysin a second grade class in which he was substituting. Nevers told authorities he was disciplining the students for misbehaving in the classroom, according to a Klein Independent School District statement issued Tuesday evening.

The statement said: "Nevers told the campus principal that the students were misbehaving, and physical contact was made as he was disciplining them. While the students were not injured, Klein ISD will not tolerate an employee irresponsibly putting their hands on a child."

According to the Klein ISD release, as of the day after the incident, Nevers was no longer employed by the district. Later, a district spokeswoman said he had resigned.

Earlier this month, Nevers was charged with three counts of felony injury to a child-, nearly five months after the incident, according to KTRK and KHOU.