Father of the Year (for real this time). If I was in his shoes, I would have done the same thing

An angry father who marched into a classroom and punched a teacher's assistant in the face said today he was protecting his 15-year-old daughter, who had accused the man of inappropriately touching her.

Dave F. Swafford, 42, was charged with felony battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide in front of a class full of students at Lakewood Ranch High School near Bradenton on Tuesday morning, authorities said. He was also named "Father of the Year" by a local radio station for his actions.

"I'm not real proud of what I did," Swafford said today. "You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me."