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Four Ashford Teachers Placed On Administrative Leave

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 12612

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
3347901729
Date: Nov 16 2019 1:29 AM

ASHFORD:    On Friday during 5th period at Ashford High School, about 2:30 PM, Houston County School Officials placed four teachers on administrative leave.


The teachers, Ms. Lassiter, Ms. Ingles, Ms. Worsham and Ms. McCardle. The teachers were alleged to have send inappropriate text messages in a group chat. One teacher is the wife of a member of the Houston County School Board.


One of the teachers is alleged to have let a student use or do something to her phone. The text messages were found by the student and recorded.


On Thursday FACEBOOK VIDEO if the text messages went viral locally. When Houston County School Superintendent David Sewell found out about the text messages he immediately directed Ashford Principal Bubba Odom to begin an investigation. Principal Odom called Ashford Police Chief Quinton Vann in to assist him in the investigation.


It is unknown if any Houston County Sheriff Investigators are assisting.


WTVY REPORTED  


WTVY TV reported the student that recorded the chats could face criminal charges.


According to former Assistant District Attorney Raynor Clifton, who now is in private practice, said text messages are like phone calls. One party of the conversation has to know it is being recorded in order to legally record someone. 


The student not being a party to the conversation and recording it, Clifton says could be subject to criminal charges. 


The charge would be a Class A misdemeanor. For a law enforcement officer to make an arrest in a misdemeanor case the offense has to be committed in the officer's prescence. The victim, which would be any of the teacher participants in the chat could file a law enforcement report and if the Magistrate or a Judge found probable cause then an arrest warrant could be issued.


WTVY TV reports all six teachers in the text messages has been placed on administrative leave. There are four main participants in the conversations chat I saw. So unsure if just four or all six were placed on administrative leave.


BEFORE EVERYONE MAKES STATEMENTS WHAT SHOULD BE DONE...  


This is new ground being plowed here. To my knowledge this is a first in teachers being in a chat alleged to have been talking trash talk about a fellow counselor and students.


With that said the school system might not have a policy covering this issue. And add to that, the Alabama Education Association is like a union. There are certain protections school teachers have if they have tenure. Some issues, not saying these because no clue, I am just saying use caution in what should be done.


The School Board might have their hands tied and not be able to suspend or terminate these teachers.


Here is why I say this...one case a former Dothan High School Principal had consensual sex with a 17 year old student. At that time the only thing the Principal could be arrested for was Contributing To The Delinquency of a Minor. It took some time before he was terminated from the school system because of tenure.


Other actions of school teachers, read prior reports where teachers had done things and the School Board could not do anything because of the protections of the teachers.


I have no clue what the education rules and regulations are. Just saying wait before you are critical, and like Hawaii Five O - "just the facts Dann-O".


Just saying, be prepared for this to take any direction in the days ahead. 


WHEN THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED  


When this investigation is completed, Ashford Police Chief Quinton Vann will be required to consult 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Pat Jones with the investigative results. 


District Attorney Pat Jones could make the decision to present the "facts" to a Houston County Grand Jury and let them decide if any criminal actions against anyone was appropriate.


A Grand Jury consists of 18 people, literally drawn from a red cookie can that cookies came in, to be the Grand Jurors. These 18 are selected from a jury venire that is called for Criminal Jury Trials.


These 18 people meet in secret. Alabama Law prevents the Grand Jurors from discussing what comes before them. Defendants normally do not testify to the Grand Jury so in most cases they only hear one side of the accusations.


Defendants have the right to testify however their attorney can not be present with them while testifying but the Prosecutor can. So most attorneys will not allow their clients to testify before a Grand Jury.


The Grand Jury is not required to return an indictment, in that they can NO BILL, which means nothing happens on the case as to criminal charges.


As to what the Houston County School Board can do is yet to be seen. The husband of the teacher with allegations will have to recuse himself from the meeting or discussion and will not be privy to the investigation details except what is released to the public.




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