Jan 25, 2008 - Loni Folks, 24, a fifth-grade teacher at W.L. Smith Elementary, was arrested on charges of sexual battery for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student
The arrest was the result of an ongoing joint investigation involving Petal Police and Petal School Police departments.
Full Name: Loni M. Folks
AKA Loni Marie Folks
Jan 26 - Clarion Ledger reports :
Folks said on her Facebook Web page that she is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and a 2001 graduate of Richton High School. She also said on the page that she is single and has two young children. However, a public records search by the Hattiesburg American indicated she is married.Folks is the third Pine Belt teacher or coach in two years to face charges of having sex with students.
- Cedric Smith was sentenced to seven years (20 years with everything suspended except seven years) in prison for statutory rape of a 14-year-old student. TT - Link
- Stephen Harris was sentenced in August to two 20-year prison sentences for sexual battery on a female student. Judge Harrell suspended all but three years and six months of each of the sentences. TT - Link
- James Nowlin was sentenced to 46 months in prison on federal charges that he used his computer to lure a minor into sex [A federal sentence and no parole and no suspension of sentence.]. TT - Link
TRIAL SCHEDULED May 16 - Folks is scheduled to go to trial Aug. 8.
TRIAL SCHEDULED October 27 - Folks is set to be tried Nov. 19 on sexual battery charges.
