Jan 21, 2008 - Rebecca Bogard, 27, was arrested on Friday. She is is under investigation for allegedly having sexual contact with a teenage student. Bogard is charged with one-count of sexual
battery.
The parents of a 15-year-old boy filed the complaint.
Bogard is a first-year Science teacher at Fernwood Alternative School, also known as the Center for New Opportunities. Bogard taught at one of the district's elementary schools for about three years, said Biloxi School Superintendent Paul Tisdale. She is a graduate of Biloxi High School.
Jan 24 - Bogard has been $$$ suspended with pay $$$. Before being employed at the alternative shcool, she was an elementary school teacher in the district for about three years.
Enrollment figures in Biloxi schools before and after Katrina. Link
Legal Note: (From Jan 24 article: The legal age of consent for sex in Mississippi is 16, or 18 if the other person is in a position of authority or trust. A school teacher is in a position of authority or trust, according to state law.
RESIGNATION Jan 31 - Bogard submitted her resignation on Wednesday.
Bogard admitted in court documents to routinely visiting the boy at his job, and paying for a private cell phone line for him. She also admits to having sex with the teenager in her car.COURT APPEARANCE Jan 30 - The Sun-Herald has extensive coverage of her court appearance.
Bogard waived her right to a preliminary hearing where underlying facts of the case are made public. Underlying facts are what police present as evidence used as probable cause to believe the defendant committed the crime.The following links are at the story. All of them PDF
Underlying Facts and Circumstances (Editor's Note: Document contains explicit material)
Affidavit of sexual battery (Editor's Note: Document contains explicit material)
Warrant issued for Rebecca Dawn Bogard
Feb 1 - Bogard sent a letter of resignation to the District. Then sent an e-mail to colleagues. The Sun Herald was forwarded a copy of the e-mail Thursday afternoon.
The e-mail read: "Please TRUST me in that I did not admit to everything that was printed in today's paper. I truly appreciate your words of support and encouragement. Please continue to pray for my family and me. Thank you, Rebecca Bogard."
When asked about the e-mail message, Superintendent Paul Tisdale said when he and the personnel director learned Bogard sent it out, they canceled her e-mail account with the school district.
WAITING FOR DNA RESULTS April 26 - The case is still awaiting grand jury review. The prosecution is waiting for the results of DNA tests before presentation to the grand jury.
INDICTED September 17 - A Harrison County grand jury has indicted Rebecca Dawn Bogard oncharges of exploitation of a child, touching of a child for lustful purposes and statutory rape. The school district suspended Bogard with pay following herarrest. She later resigned.
