Knoxville, TENNESEE

"The court finds that the 71 days served is sufficient 'shock incarceration' to effectively sober the defendant's mind as to the seriousness of the offense," the judge wrote.

Mar 16, 2007 - Erin McLean, 30, a teaching intern last fall at West High School, is not in jail or even being investigated for a sexual relationship with a 18-year-old boy she met while at the school. Now the boy is dead, shot by her husband outside their home last Sunday.

The age of consent in Tennesee is 18 and Sean Powell was 18. The mother of two boys, ages 11 and 7, Erin McClean has reportedly moved in with relatives in Nashville while her husband, Eric, remains in jail.

The funeral for Sean Powell was held on Thursday.

Mar 21 - Erin McClean tried to commit suicide five days later with a drug overdose, Nashville police said. Her family called police, she was taken to a hospital and later released.

Mar 22 - Tabloid journalism: NBC's "Today" show interviewed McClean. General Sessions Judge Bob McGee agreed Wednesday to allow the NBC interview over prosecutors' objections that it could prejudice a jury pool.

TT - It's the kind of journalism we used to associate with the National Enquirer. There's something unseemly about such public displays when one young man is dead, his family is grieving, McClean's two children will likely be removed from the home and lose their father for a long time. Human tragedy as a spectator sport.

Apr 2 - The victims adoptive mother saw "little love" in the teacher-student sex. "how can anyone put love into this situation?" She and her husband adopted Sean when he was age 6. It was his fifth foster home.

"He struggled to overcome his pain from his early childhood," Scarlett Powell wrote. "He had been displaced many times in his short life. We hoped to assist him to feel wanted and loved, which Sean desperately needed, but mostly we wanted to keep him safe and out of harm's way."

INDICTMENT SECOND DEGREE May 10 - Eric McLean was indicted but not the first-degree count prosecutors had sought, according to court documents released Thursday. The second-degree murder count against Eric McLean carries a 25-year maximum sentence, instead of the life term the higher-level charge carries.

McLean, released on $150,000 bond in April, is expected to be arraigned in a couple of weeks and have a trial date set.

TRIAL DATE SET June 20 - A trial date has been scheduled for for January 21, 2008. A judge ruled he will have to pay for his own lawyer. The defense lawyer thinks a divorce is in the near future.

WEIRD TWIST Sept 21 - ABC News is reporting that Erin McLean has gone missing with her two children. Her lawyer thinks she may be heading to California to meet with a friend she met on the Internet.

NEW INDICTMENT Dec 13 - The grand jury has indicted McLean on first-degree murder charges. He had previously faced a second-degree murder.

NOT GUILTY PLEA Dec 14 - McLean was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. A motions trial is scheduled for Jan 14. McLean's two kids are with their mother. Where they are, exactly, no one seems to know. The last known location was somewhere in Colorado. A jury trial is scheduled for Sep 3, 2008.

DIVORCE Feb 1, 2008 - A judge granted Erin McLean a divorce and appointed a lawyer to serve as guardian of the children. They do not know where the mother and the children are and will be searching.

TRIAL September 3 - Jurors are being selected in the murder trial.

See our Rant of the Day.

CONVICTED, SENTENCED and RELEASED December 18 - McLean was convicted of of reckless homicide in September and was sentenced to 90 days, which would have freed him on Christmas Eve. Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz signed an order Friday releasing McLean after serving a total of 71 days in jail.

Smyrna, TENNESSEE

He came to court hoping for probation for five statutory rape and two assault convictions.


Jan 6, 2007 - A trial date has been set for Kenneth Anderson Jr, 38, Smyrna High biology teacher, on statutory rape charges. Anderson faces 25 charges, including several statutory rape counts, sexual battery of an authority figure and rape by fraud. Trial is scheduled for May 7. Now scheduled for July 9.

DISTRICT INVESTIGATION in 2003 June 30 - The Tenneseean reports that

the Metro school district investigated paternity charges in 2003. Metro's Adult Sex Crimes Unit closed the case a month later with no charges filed. DNA tests concluded Anderson was not the father, and he was allowed to finish out the school year. Metro didn't rehire him, and Anderson moved on to Williamson and then Rutherford County.

School officials there launched their own investigation after a parent complained about racy text messages sent to their daughter. Rutherford fired him almost a month later and reported the incident to the state.

In February 2006, Metro police arrested Anderson on multiple counts of statutory rape involving two children. One was a student at Smyrna High School and one was not.

TRIAL DATE RESCHEDULED Jan 14, 2008 - Jury selection began in trial. THEN, Anderson's trial has been postponed until July 21. [No explanation.] He has been charged with three counts of rape, 13 counts of statutory rape and nine counts of sexual battery by an authority figure for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.

PREVIOUS CONVICTION Anderson was convicted on statutory rape charges last year for having a sexual relationship with a different minor. The 13-year-old Antioch girl’s father found them in bed together. She was not a student.
See District Attorney General Case Disposition 2006-C-2268, September 27, 2007

SENTENCED (on the conviction of rape of 13-year-old - newspaper says she was 14. D.A. office press release above says 13.)
Jan 31, 2008 - The Tennessean, says that Anderson came to court hoping to be placed on probation for his five statutory rape and two assault convictions. They lament: two years of good behavior wasn't enough. (He's been wearing an electronic ankle monitor for two years and has not violated the corresponding restrictions, which allow him to go only to work, church and the grocery store, they write.)

Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins gave Anderson two years for each rape count and 11 months and 29 days for the assault charges, but the judge has not decided whether Anderson will have to serve the sentences consecutively or concurrently.

The judge ordered Anderson to undergo a psychosexual evaluation before administering the terms of the sentence. Watkins will make a decision April 2.

Anderson is awaiting trial in July on charges of sexual battery involving a relationship he is accused of having with a 16-year-old girl.

SENTENCED Dec 5 - Anderson was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison. Anderson was already serving time for statutory rape and simple assault.

Winchester, TENNESSEE

October 31, 2008 - Robert Allen, Jr. , 39, was arrested on charges of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 17-year-old at retreat in August. The Franklin County High School drama and English teacher has been charged with sexual battery by an authority figure.

Mr. Allen admitted to the allegations and told investigators he bought beer and smoked marijuana with the teen in a rented cabin at Grundy County’s Bear Hollow Retreat, court records show. The student did not attend Franklin.

Full Name: Robert Thomas Allen

Murfreesboro, TENNESSEE

INVESTIGATION

November 1, 2008 - A 36-year-old Blackman High School honors English teacher May have used text messages and Web sites to engage in sexual communications with at least two female students. The teacher may before a grand jury and could lead to criminal charges.

On Thursday, Rutherford County schools Director Harry Gill Jr. suspended the teacher while police investigate. That was after the sheriff's office contacted Angel McCloud, county schools attorney, about their investigation Wednesday night.

No charges have been filed.

Corryton, TENNESSEE

October 31, 2008 - Mike McMillan. a history teacher at Gibbs High School, retired Friday, the same day he learned he was being charged by the superintendent with insubordination and incompetence.

The letter indicates the standardized End-of-Course scores from students in McMillan's class are among the lowest in the school system. McIntyre wrote that McMillan encouraged students to skip a U.S. history class when the tests were administered, so that he could give them an easier test later. Eighteen students were absent from McMillan's third and fourth period classes.

McIntyre said McMillan also didn't turn in testing materials when he was supposed to, concluding that McMillan had violated both state and local policies.
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SCHOOL INFO: Gibbs High School rates a 4 (with 10 being the highest) at GreatSchools.net.
GreatSchool ratings give an overview of this school's test results. They are based on a comparison of test results for all schools in the state. The Gateway/End-of-Course (EOC) test scores for 2006-2007 for Gibbs High School are here. Compare that with the school district EOC results.

Memphis, TENNESSEE

Fullilove apologizes for 'unfortunate circumstances'
Some people are awfully tolerant.

October 31, 2008 - She recently lost her job as a teacher at Northwest Mississippi Community College. She was arrested. Not for the first time.

- She was arrested in March for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test in DeSoto County. She pleaded guilty in June to driving under the influence of medication (which is the same as driving under the influence of alcohol.) She was barred from driving in Mississippi. Her drivers license was confiscated.

- In May, she collided with a southbound driver on U.S. 61. The incident injured a girl who was a passenger in the other car. The former teacher was not charged in that incident.

- In June, she was photographed slumped over behind the wheel of a parked car at a Tunica casino.

- October 17, Fullilove was arrested in Tunica County on charges of careless driving and refusing to take a DUI test after she failed a field-sobriety test. Fullilove showed a valid Tennessee driver’s license to Tunica County deputies. The license was fraudulent.

After the DeSoto arrest and guilty plea in June, she then applied for and received a duplicate license from Tennessee after reporting hers was “lost.” She is now being charged with fraudulent use of a driver's license and making or selling a counterfeit driver's license.

Janis DeSoto is a Memphis city councilwoman.

Some council members have been swamped by e-mails and phone calls from citizens demanding action. In response, the council is thinking about maybe a resolution that "criticized Fullilove’s actions and encouraged her “to seek professional treatment that will enable her to overcome the personal challenges that have impacted her public service if she has not already sought treatment." No censure is planned.

Oh, and in 1995, the former radio announcer pleaded guilty to drunken driving following a 1994 arrest after a concerned motorist alerted Memphis police to a reckless driver.

Janis said she would soon recommend what action the council should take against her.

Ripley, TENNESSEE

Amy was going for a track record, only not on the track.
If you get our drift.

June 5, 2008 - Amy Elder, 28, a Ripley High School teacher and softball coach , was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexual battery and statutory rape for a sexual relationship with at least two girls at Ripley High School over the past two years.

According to the Lauderdale County indictment, Elder had a sexual relationship with a 17 year-old girl from September to October 2006.

Police say there was another sexual encounter on Christmas Day of 2006. Documents also show Elder had another sexual relationship with a 15 year-old girl from March to June 2007. Police say there was another encounter on News Year's Eve 2007, and that the relationship continued between January and March of 2008.

Her trial is scheduled to begin October 21.

GUILTY VERDICT October 23 - Elder was convicted of nine counts of child abuse. The nine criminal counts each carry a maximum punishment of 11 months and 29 days in jail. She will be sentenced December 19.

She faces similar sex charges involving another former student, and a second trial is scheduled for February.

Portland, TENNESSEE

September 26, 2008 - Portland High School math teacher Sandy L. Binkley, 36, was arrested and charged with statutory rape by an authority figure.

She is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old Portland High student in March 2008. Parents of the student reported the incident to Portland High Principal Bob Gideon. A police investigation indicated that Binkley and the student had sex at the school during school.

According to police, Binkley admitted to having sex with the student. According to police, Binkley admitted to having sex with the student.

She is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court on Oct. 8
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WE FOUND: Portland High School rates a 3 (with 10 being the highest) at GreatSchools.net.
Google Map

Chattanooga, TENNESSEE

September 8, 2008 - Charles Muskiet, 38, a Latin teacher at at Baylor School, was arrested after he traveled to Dalton, Georgia, to meet what he thought was an underage person to engage in sexual activity.

He was charged with charges of criminal attempt at child molestation and computer pornography child exploitation.

He was fired by the school.
Full Name: Charles Michael Muskiet
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He was arrested by agents working with the FBI's Innocent Images task force.

Knoxville, TENNESSEE

RANT OF THE DAY

Another murder trial eagerly followed by a tabloid press. We aren't talking about the National Inquirer, either.

September 3, 2008 - The trial has started for Eric McLean on first-degree murder charges for killing an 18-year-old former student of his wife. Jurors were informed they could be sequestered for the duration of the trial that is being carried live by truTV.

Eric McLean has since divorced his wife, who was 29 at the time, which makes this headline, "Love-triangle slaying: Judge won't issue gag order" distasteful. (from the Knoxville News-Sentinel, a Scripps newspaper)

It wasn't a triangle and no love was involved. It's the story of a sexual predator in the classroom,. But that would be a less-thrilling headline and McClean wouldn't have - less than 10 days after after point-blank shooting the boy to death - appeared on NBC's "Today" show.

Frankly, the National Inquirer has become more legitimate than our former mainstream media that have become low end, tabloid thrill-seekers. What kind of people celebrate a murder like this when an 18-year-old boy who delivered pizzas is dead?

The wife, Erin McLean, has since been involved in at least two other scandals involving teenage boys and has been on the run from her estranged husband's divorce attorney with the children, ages 11 and 8, since last summer.

TT - Entry for McLean

White Bluff, TENNESEE

May 22, 2007 - Julie Petty, 36, a substitute teacher at William James Middle School, was arrested and was charged with sexual battery by an authority figure and rape by an authority figure.

The sheriff said the victim is a 14-year-old girl at the school.
WKRN news: According to the court affidavit, the student said Petty “touched her all over and then went further.”

The Dickson County Sheriff is asking parents or anyone else to come forward if their children had inappropriate contact with Petty. 615-789-4130

INDICTED: August 30 - Petty was indicted on a charge of sexual battery by a person in authority and statutory rape by a person in authority. Both charges are Class C felonies.

Last month the judge put several restrictions on her. "Petty was also warned not to knowingly make a visual, audible, sexually suggestive or obscene gesture, sound, or communication at or to the alleged victim." She will be arraigned on September 10.

TRIAL SCHEDULED May 30, 2008 - Petty goes on trial Monday on sex-related charges involving an eighth-grade female student.

GUILTY PLEA - August 17, 2008 - Petty pleaded guilty to sexual battery by an authority figure. In exchange for that plea, the state dismissed a statutory rape charge against her. She will be sentenced next month.

Memphis, TENNESSEE

August 27, 2008 - Carolyn Green, a teacher at Kingsbury High School, was arrested and is facing theft and forgery charges after an audit showed that $3,375 Green was responsible for was never deposited.

Green was the senior sponsor for organizing, planning and collecting funds for senior activities, including the class trip and prom.

In 2005, a Shelby County judge convicted Green of theft after she was accused of writing $8,700 in bogus checks to a contractor working on her home. She was sentenced to two years diversion.

Maryville, TENNESSEE

August 27, 2008 - Stanley McCleave, 51, an adjunct photography instructor at Maryville College, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Thursday for receiving and possessing child pornography.

A search warrant in 2007 led to the seizure of several computers and accessories with more than 17,000 child porn images. "The FBI was able to positively identify the minor children in 1,747 images possessed by McCleave.

McCleave will have to register as a sex offender and will be on lifetime supervised release.
Full Name: Stanley Eldridge McCleave

See Maryville photographer pleads guilty to child porn charges
See Indictment against McCleave PDF
See McCleave's Plea Agreement PDF

Child Pornography and Educators
TT - List of educators sentenced for child pornography.
TT - List of educators guilty but not yet sentenced for child pornography.

Tiptonville, TENNESSEE

One of the most popular teachers at Lake County High.
Sentenced to judicial diversion - no jail, no prison and no punishment - for sex with student.

May 9, 2008 - Tracy Hinson, 38, a science teacher at Lake County High School, has been charged with contributing to the unruly behavior of minor. She was confronted Thursday afternoon with allegations that she'd been sexually involved with 17-year-old male student.

She is scheduled to appear in Lake County Juvenile Court on Wednesday, May 14.

News Channel: Hinson has been suspended without pay.

Sources tell News Channel 3 the evidence of the inappropriate relationship can be found in the 4500 text messages exchanged between the teacher and student.

Hinson, a cheerleading coach and dance team teacher, was a favorite among students but in such a controversial story as this even this former cheerleader and supporter didn't want to show her face.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES May 14 - "During a juvenile court hearing, the judge dismissed the only pending charge, she contributed to the boys bad behavior. The dismissal came at the request of the district attorney who withheld the right to re-charge her. No reason was given for the dismissal and the investigation is on-going.

Nothing was said today about allegations she had sex with the 17-year old male student." The sheriff says the investigation into those allegations is continuing.

The investigation continues and so does the fall out. The vice principal at Lake County High resigned Monday. When asked if his resignation had anything to do with this case, the superintendent responded affirmatively.

"It was involved in the internal investigation. And, again, Mrs. Henson is suspended without pay until this investigation is completed," said Superintendent Joey Hassell.

May 16 - Hinson remains under investigation. The Lake County Board of Education is scheduled to meet in a called session Monday night to consider firing her. [Posters at the story report that she has resigned.]

INVESTIGATION May 22 - Hinson's resignation was accepted.

Investigator Joe Vernon of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department is heading up the ongoing case. He said Monday he had subpoenaed 67,000 text messages taken from two confiscated cell phones made over a 122 day period.Vernon said he has 30 persons to interview and has talked with about half of them.Vernon said it was possible that evidence could be presented to the July 7 term of the Lake County Grand Jury and that a more serious charge or charges could be the result. He also said the case might not be ready by July 7 which would move it back to the November term.

PLEA (Sorta) & SENTENCING (Sorta) - Hinson pleaded no contest to a charge of aggravated statutory rape. She was placed on on judicial diversion, which includes supervised probation for two years, payment of court costs and no contact with the student. If she successfully completes her diversionary period, Hinson may ask the court to expunge her criminal record.

Instead of waiting for the next grand jury to meet, Hinson on Tuesday signed a waiver of indictment and pleaded to a "criminal information," a document charging her with the offense of aggravated statutory rape.

The document accuses Hinson of being unlawfully sexually penetrated by a male between the ages of 13 and 18 during January. Hinson was at least 10 years older than the boy, an age difference that elevates the charge to "aggravated" statutory rape.

While it had been widely rumored that the investigation would lead to indictments against several individuals, Lake County Sheriff's Investigator Joe Vernon said Tuesday that his investigation had not uncovered criminal activities involving other persons. However, he said he is still looking into the situation.

PLEA WITHDRAWN October 23 - Circuit Court Judge Lee Moore granted a request on Thursday, Oct. 16. for Hinson to withdraw her plea. Her attorney argued the district attorney's office and Hinson negotiated a plea agreement that did not require Hinson to register with the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry. That was true during their negotiations but, by the time the plea was entered in court, state law had changed. Effective July 1, anyone being sentenced to judicial diversion for aggravated statutory rape must register as a sexual offender for as long as the diversionary period lasts.

Hinson is now applying for pretrial diversion, a form of diversion that will not require her to register as a sexual offender.

Eidson, TENNESSEE

His computer and hard drives had 110 videos depicting child bondage and children engaged in sadomasochistic conduct. In all, the computers contained over 9,000 images of child pornography.

SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS and LIFETIME SUPERVISED RELEASE.

SEX CHARGES ARREST June 28, 2007 - Michael Noel, 36, a teacher and basketball coach at Clinch School, was arrested and charged in two separate incidents involving a 13-year-old male and a 15-year-old male.

Noel has been charged with aggravated sexual battery, sexual battery by an authority figure, solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, and attempt to commit especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

FIRED July 19 - Noel was dismissed by the Hawkins County Board of Education July 12. He has 30 days to request a hearing before the board.
Full Name: Michael Eugene Noel

FEDERAL INDICTMENT AND ARREST Feb 16, 2008 - Noel was indicted and arrested on federal child pornography charges. The three count indictment was handed down February 12 by a federal grand jury.

The first count of the federal indictment alleges Noel "did knowingly receive child pornography" from March 2006 until June 2007.

The second count, covering the same time frame, alleges he possessed a computer "containing an image of child pornography."

The third count of the federal indictment claims from June 20, 2007 until June 28, 2007 Noel "did corruptly obstruct and impede, or endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede" the criminal case "by damaging and attempting to destroy two CPU towers and computer accessories, all of which was evidence of crime, and by concealing other evidence of crime."

He is in federal custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing to be held February 19. Follow up: (from Apr 16 story) Noel waived his right to a detention hearing has been held in federal custody without bond since being indicted in February.

GUILTY PLEA April 16, 2008 - Noel pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and obstructing justice. The obstruction of justice charge comes from his attempt to destroy evidence.

Court records state after Noel agreed to meet [Detective] Adkins at his home to receive the arrest warrant, Noel removed from his home the two computers and two hard drives containing the child pornography images, disconnected the Internet cables for the computers, and stored the equipment with a friend who had no knowledge of the contents of the computers and hard drives.

Prosecutors say Noel also defaced one of the computers and attempted to disable or destroy it by hitting it with a hammer. Because of these actions, federal prosecutors charged him with obstruction of justice.

He still faces charges in Sullivan County for sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, and attempted especially aggravated exploitation of a minor.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on the child pornography charges on Aug. 18.

SENTENCED August 18 - Noel was sentenced to 26 years in prison for having more than 9,000 images of child pornography on his computers. After serving his prison sentence, Noel must submit to supervised release for the rest of his life.

Read this excellent writeup that includes extensive quotes from the U.S. Attorney.

Child Pornography and Educators
TT - List sentenced for child pornography.
TT - List guilty but not yet sentenced for child pornography.

Knoxville, TENNESSEE

Police were not notified until 24-hours later.

August 18, 2008 - An 17-year-old special education student died after falling out of the back of a pickup truck at Karns High School. The student was riding in the back of a pickup truck with three other students when he fell out of the bed of the truck and hit his head on the asphalt.

An administrator and a teacher were placed on administrative leave while the school investigates. Superintendent Jim McIntyre will decide the next step once he has the results of the investigation. Isaacs previously said the student had been asked to help load a truck while in shop class, fell, and hit his head. The student was 17-year-old Eric Law.

The sheriff's office was not notified until nearly 24 hours after the accident.

Columbia, TENNESSEE

School Board Watch

August 18, 2008 - The Maury County School Board is proposing to spend about $1 million dollars for I Can Learn, a software system aimed at boosting math scores. The software would be geared toward eighth-grade students learning algebra.

The software program, the Advertiser News reports, "is marketed by a politically savvy company whose product has been at the center of a corruption case in Louisiana."

The program has faced criticism in Fort Worth, Texas, where school officials ended their contract with the software company after spending almost $15 million on algebra and pre-algebra labs.

Former Fort Worth Superintendent Thomas Tocco touted the program extensively during his tenure with the district when it was purchased and was later hired as a consultant for JRL Enterprises.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported in June 2007 that only one of 10 schools that originally had the program were still using it in 2007.

In Louisiana, Mose Jefferson was indicted on bribery, obstruction of justice and money-laundering charges in April. He is accused of paying a former Orleans School Board president a series of bribes totaling $140,000 in exchange for supporting the lease of I CAN Learn programs. The school board president, Ellenese Brooks-Simms, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in U.S. District Court.

Investigators allege Brooks-Simms was elected to the Orleans Parish School Board with the assistance of Jefferson and his political organization.
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TT - Mose Jefferson is the eldest brother of indicted Congressman William Jefferson. (D-LA)

The Maury County School District rates a 5 at GreatSchools.net

Interestingly, none of the Gateway end-of-course testing at the schools show any problems in Algebra. The state average is 77% at or above proficiency (Proficiency= at grade level.) In Maury District, 83% tested at or above grade level in Algebra I.

Clarksville, TENNESSEE

When you're facing 30 years in prison, there isn't much else to do. The agony for the victims and the families, however, must be awful.

August 16, 2008 - Ex-schoolbus driver Brian Lee Wrigglesworth, is asking for post-conviction relief. The motion will be heard by a judge on October 14.

Wrigglesworth pleaded guilty in 2006 to three counts of child rape and was sentenced to 30 years. He was originally charged in an 87-count indictment of raping three 6- and 7-year-old girls at Glenellen Elementary School between April and May 2004.

The news story states that he is ineligible for parole.

Wrigglesworth must serve all of his sentence. Not even the governor can reduce the sentence.

He will be 68 years old when released from prison if he serves his full sentence. And, even then, he will have to register as a sex offender.
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LEGAL NOTES: Post-conviction relief appeal is part of the appeals process in both non-capital and capital cases. From the Office of the Attorney General and Reporter of Tennessee, there is this explanation.

Within one year of the final order in a case, a defendant may file a petition for post-conviction relief in the county trial court of conviction. In this petition, a defendant is limited to raising only constitutional errors that occurred during his trial and/or sentencing hearing. Post-conviction petitions are handled, at the trial court level, by the local district attorney general's office.

If post-conviction relief is denied, a defendant may appeal that denial to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Just as in direct appeal cases, if the defendant loses in the Court of Criminal Appeals, he may seek permission to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Review is granted or denied at the discretion of the Supreme Court, in both capital and non-capital cases.

IN ONLINE ARCHIVES: In September 2006, Wrigglesworth alleged that attorney never wanted to try the case and in this June 5, 2007 story, he wanted to change his plea:

A judge decided a convicted child rapist can not change his guilty plea. Attorneys for former school bus driver Brian Wrigglesworth filed a motion asking if he could change his guilty plea to not guilty. A judge denied the request and ordered Wrigglesworth to finish out his 30-year sentence behind bars. He struck a deal after being charged with raping students on his bus.

Nashville, TENNESSEE

Sentenced to three years in prison.

ARRESTED May 15, 2007 - Independence High School teacher Heather Thornsby, 34, has been arrested on charges that she had a sexual relationship with a student.

Thornsby told school officials that she’d been having an inappropriate relationship with a female student, according to the sheriff. She is charged with sexual battery by an authority figure and is being held at the county jail without bail.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Department told Channel 4 News that a parent filed a complaint. They said the complaint alleged improper contact between the teacher and a student. The girl’s parents discovered the relationship after finding a message in her room.

A second female teacher at the school is also being investigated for sex with another female student. Channel 2 news link.
Full Name: Heather Lee Thorsby

Update May 16 - Thornsby bailed out ($10,000) and to remain with her parents who live in Franklin. Thorsby planned to resign at the end of the school year, according to Williamson County Schools Director Rebecca Sharber. She has been suspended without pay.
(Photo courtesy Williamson County Sheriff's Office.)

INDICTED Nov 13 - A grand jury has indicted Thornsby on seven counts related to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student. She is charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means.

Thorsby was arrested on May 15 and charged then with sexual battery by an authority figure. School officials suspended Thorsby without pay on May 11, after she admitted to displaying conduct unbecoming of a teacher.

In May, Williamson County Sheriff Ricky Headley said Thorsby told school officials she’d been having an inappropriate relationship with a female student. Headley said the relationship began as a friendship but turned sexual.

The girl turned 18 in March. Her parents uncovered the relationship after finding a message in her room, Headley said. The parents went to school officials.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 31, 2008 - Thornsby pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and 2 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. She was sentenced to three years in prison.

She was sentenced to three years for each of the five counts but as part of the plea bargain, she will serve the sentences concurrently. She was also required to registry with the state as a sex offender.

Jasper, TENNESSEE

July 25, 2008 - Jack Owens, 47, a substitute teacher in Marion County schools, was arrested and charged with aggravated statutory rape by an authority figureand solicitation of a minor by electronic means, and carrying a weapon on school property.

Authorities were notified Thursday by the victim's family after explicit text messaged were discovered on the student's phone. The student is described as a 15-year-old student athlete. Police took over the texting as part of the investigation and arraigned a meeting at Marion County High School where they arrested Owens.

The married father of four had been a paramedic at Grandview Medical Center for five years. He serves as athletic trainer for the Marion County High School football team and has been a substitute teacher in Marion County.
Full Name: Jack Clinton Owens
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IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM NewsChannel 9 visited the school to "get answers."

We went to Owens' house, where no one answered the door. And to Marion County High, where we were told to leave.

We were approached by a woman, who didn't identify herself, who told us, "you need to leave, there are kids practicing, you can't do this to the kids."

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