Raleigh, MISSISSIPPI

October 22, 2008 - William Stewart, 55, a Raleigh Junior High School social studies teacher, was arrested and charged with possession and manufacture of marijuana.

He had been under surveillance since May when deputies noticed suspicious activity at his home.
Full Name: William Donald Stewart
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Comment at the story:
I actually had him last year for Advanced World Geography and I honestly didnt doubt it one bit when I heard the news. He had told our class what country to go to if we wanted to smoke it legally. I'm sorry but teachers are supposed to be setting an example of standing against drugs, NOT standing for them. I'm a member of the Teen Council this year and I'm definitely not for drugs. I agree with the comment below that says the teachers should be tested for drugs. I'm all for that! A class full of students shouldnt be in the possession of someone who is under the influence of drugs"! Drug tests should be required at least once a month for teachers in my opinion.

Jackson, MISSISSIPPI

September 23, 2008 - Sheral Smith, 37, has been charged with statutory rape and transferring a controlled substance. Smith was a teacher at New Summit school. Since her arrest, Smith has been fired from the private school. She'd been a teacher at the schiool for only three weeks.

She is accused or having sex with a 14 year-old student in her Brandon home. Investigators say they think the 37-year-old wife and mother of two boys may have drugged her victim before the incident.

She was arrested Wednesday night. Smith has not been indicted. her case will be presented to a grand jury.
Full Name: Sheral Lee Smith

INDICTED December 7 - A Rankin County grand jury indicted Smith on four counts of statutory rape. Smith's trial has been set for July 2009. She is also facing statutory rape and sexual battery charges in Hinds County against the same teen. Those charges are pending.

Greenville, MISSISSIPPI

COURT DECISION - APPEAL DENIED

May 5, 2008 - The Mississippi Court of Appeals is scheduled this term to hear an appeal on May 20 from a former teacher who was convicted of sexual battery involving a 15-year-old student.

John Magyar of Leland, Miss., was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted in Washington County in 2005. Prosecutors say Magyar was a teacher at Greenville Christian School when the crime occurred.
Full Name: John Anthony Magyar

APPEAL DENIED September 24, 2008 - The Appeals Court on Tuesday rejected Magyar's argument that he would not have pleaded guilty if he had known he would have to register as a sex offender. The court says Magyar's sentencing order included the registration requirement. (TT - He also claimed ineffective counsel, a claim that was rejected, as well as a claim that he was denied a right to confront witnesses.)
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TT - They don't link to it, but the case is JOHN ANTHONY MAGYAR APPELLANT v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI - NO. 2007-CA-00740-COA

Internet Policy

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY

July 24, 2008 - Two Mississippi school districts have banned text messaging and online social network communication between faculty and students following a string of teacher-student sex scandals.

The school districts are Lauderdale County School District and Lamar School District that has banned teacher-student communication on social networking sites.
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TT- We have long advocated such a policy because such such communication crosses the boundary between the professional and the student. It's hard enough to maintain distance with students without further familiarity to blur the line between the school and private life.

Many teachers have written to say that they find such communication useful. However, no parent expects a doctor to contact their child via e-mail and have a ongoing exchange. And they would find it decidedly odd and unsettling if the child's dentist or a police officer wanted to have private e-mail exchanges with their child.

Someone has to be the grownup.

Jackson, MISSISSIPPI

The school district has 61 schools and 32,403 students, rates a 5 overall from GreatSchools. net, some 82% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program, and they need these kinds of distractions.

June 19, 2008 - Chastain Middle School is looking for a new principal. The principal at the school resigned a year ago to take a job in California. Parents claimed students were having sex, using drugs and fighting on school grounds That pricipal had replaced Michael Ellis.

Michael Ellis was fired by Superintendent Earl Watkins and then won a sexual harassment lawsuit against Jackson Public Schools after his termination. The lawsuit claimed that he was fired because he refused Watkins' advances. Watkins denied the allegation.

And in 2006, former Chastain teacher Carla Hughes was arrested and charged in connection with the slaying of Avis Banks. Banks was the fiancee of another Chastain teacher.
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TT entry for Carla Hughes.

Another Jackson Public School teacher not mentioned was Elicia Hughes, who was arrested and tried for the murder of her husband. A jury convicted her, but a judge overturned the verdict the grounds that one of the reasons the state gave for striking a potential juror was not race neutral. A second jury found her not guilty of shooting her husband six times.
TT entry for Elicia.

Greene County, MISSISSIPPI

Sentenced to 20 years - to serve 10 - registration as a sex offender, and 10 years post-release supervision. It would be good if some teacher ethics training classes would take note of the lengthy sentence imposed in this case and use the story to impress upon other teachers that they are not above the law. They won't.

Dec 20, 2006 - Damien Henderson, 27, a Greene County teacher, was arrested on child exploitation charges. Henderson was already under indictment and out on bond on a child exploitation charge in Tippah County, and was arraigned on another charge of child exploitation.
Full Name: Damien Gregg Henderson

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING May 30, 2008 - Henderson pleaded guilty in Greene County Circuit Court to child exploitation for sending sexually explicit text messages to a former student.

Greene County Circuit Court Judge Dale Harkey sentenced Henderson on Thursday to 20 years, of which he will serve 10 years. Also, Henderson will be registered as a sex offender and will serve the remaining 10 years on post release supervision, according to the district attorney's office.

Byhalia, MISSISSIPPI

May 9, 2008 -
Ronald Nichols, 37, a math teacher at Grace Baptist School, was arrested for having sexual contact with 13-year-old student. He was charged with sexual battery by an authority figure.

Investigators Nichols went to the South-East Shelby County home of one of his female students last Friday afternoon. No one but the girl was at home during the teacher's visit.

According to Shelby County deputies, the girl told Deputies Nichols is her math teacher and that during their visit he kissed and fondled her.

He's due in court next week.
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Arresting Agency: Shelby County Sheriff's Office (TN)
School location: Marshall County
"The private Grace Baptist School is part of a small fundamental church tucked away off Highway 72 near the Tennessee-Mississippi border."

Wikipedia: Shelby County is part of the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which comprises eight counties in the three states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Simpson County, MISSISSIPPI

Sentenced to fifteen years in prison and registration as a sex offender.

Mar 16, 2007 - Ruben Renfrow III, 72, a retired teacher and principal, was arrested and indicted for allegedly molesting his grandchildren and possession of child pornography.

During the investigation authorities seized Renfrow's computer. According to Sheriff Kenneth Lewis, child pornography was discovered on the personal computer. No trial date has been set.
Full Name: Ruben Buford Renfrow III

GUILTY VERDICT March 27, 2008 - A Simpson County jury has found a longtime educator guilty of possessing child pornography. The fondling charge was dismissed. There was this puzzling bit.

After three days of testimony, the children's father says the guilty verdict will help the family feel a sense of closure.

"Justice will be served. I told him, the truth will come out. And it did," said Randall Matthew's, the father of the victims.

Renfrow will be sentenced April 18. [A reader advises that the sentencing has been rescheduled to May 2.]

April 10 - The family would like to make it clear that they are not satisifed with letting the molestation charges drop and intend to pursue the matter.

SENTENCED May 2 - Renfrow was sentenced to 15 years in prison and registration as a sex offender.

"The lengthy sentence imposed in this case reflects the judge's intolerance for these types of despicable acts," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "The court has made it very clear that anyone, especially a former school teacher, convicted of child sex crimes will be headed to prison for a very long time.

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

Natchez, MISSISSIPPI

March 29, 2008 - Roosevelt M. Green, a Robert Lewis Middle School physical education teacher, was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said the arrest, stemming from a tip to the police department, yielded two bags containing approximately five grams of marijuana each. Possession below 30 grams is a misdemeanor.

TT - Why is it we have zero tolerance for marijuana for schools but not for teachers?

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Resentenced to -- same sentence.

Feb 8, 2008 - Mark D. Rice, 50, an ASTEC Charter Middle School teacher, was sentenced to 21-year, 10-months in December 2002 after pleading guilty to four child-pornography felonies, that of producing and possessing child pornography.

Because of changes in sentencing guidelines, his sentence was revisited. Rice argued in a 2-day hearing in August that he should receive a lighter sentence. The court, however, imposed the same sentence.

Press Release from U.S. Attorneys Office on re-sentencing.
----------------------------------------
Background can be found in his appeal that was denied.
Feb 26, 2004 No. 02-6401
He previously worked in Mississippi.

Petal, MISSISSIPPI

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.

Poplarville, MISSISSIPPI

ARRESTED Dec 20, 2006 - Cedric Smith, 35, Poplarville teacher and baseball coach, was arrested for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl student.

The age of consent in Mississippi is 16.Under Mississippi state statutes, a person over 21 years old can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for felony statutory rape.

GUILTY PLEA Sept 7, 2007 - Smith pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a 14-year-old female student. He was arrested in December 2006, accused of having sex with the girl. He will be sentenced in November.
Full Name: Cedric Earl Smith

SENTENCED Jan 24, 2008 - Smith was sentenced to seven years in prison. (20 years in prison for statutory rape 13 years suspended.)

Biloxi, MISSISSIPPI

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.

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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.

Tupelo, MISSISSIPPI

ACQUITTED

May 11, 2007 - Robert Chisholm, 31, a physical education teacher at Joyner Avenue Elementary School, was arrested on charges of molesting a juvenile.

The incident with a 15-year-old -- who is not a Tupelo student -- took place while the two were in Destin, Fla., Chisholm, 31, is in the Monroe County Jail while awaiting extradition to Walton County, Fla.
Full Name: Robert Alan Chisholm

ACQUITTED Jan 16, 2008 - Chisholm was a acquitted. Information from poster and found on Walton County, Florida Clerk of the Records website.

ACQUITTED

Ridgeland, MISSISSIPI

Carla might have anger management issues.
Updated for indictment.
Updated - trial finally scheduled. (Jan 2008)

Dec 7, 2006 - Carla A. Hughes, 27, a language arts teacher at Chastain Middle School, was initially charged with accessory after the fact in the slaying of 27-year-old Avis Marie Banks.

Banks' body was found Nov. 29 behind her car at her home with multiple gunshot and stab wounds. She was five months pregnant.

Police are investigating a second teacher -- Keyon Pittman, another teacher who was Banks fiance. Police will not discuss Hughes' arrest.

CHARGES UPGRADED Dec 9 - Charges have been upgraded to two counts of capital murder. Pittmann, another teacher, who lived with the victim cannot be found. He is not considered a suspect.

Update Dec 23 - Police still want to interview Pittman.

PRELIMINARY HEARING Jan 2, 2007 - A preliminary hearing was held. Aa cousin of Carla Hughes brought them the murder weapon. Police awaiting tests. Pittman pleaded fifth.

INDICTED Feb 28 - Hughes has been indicted by the grand jury on two counts of murder. In the course of a preliminary hearing in January, investigators said they had made a connection between Hughes and the murder weapon, also finding blood on her shoes. District Attorney David Clark says he plans to seek the death penalty.

Delta Democrat Times: Hughes has been held without bond since her arrest.

TRIAL SCHEDULED Jan 8, 2008 - Hughes trial has been scheduled for June 16. District Attorney Michael Guest requested more time to prepare for the trial, and Hughes' attorney, state Sen. Johnnie Walls of Greenville, asked that the trial be scheduled around the legislative session.
Also see Clarion-Ledger story.
Official Mississippi state Senator Johnnie Walls website.

Sleaze TV

Jan 2, 2008 - CourtTV, now TruTV, is showing the trial of teacher Elicia Hughes, who was convicted of killing her husband. That verdict was set aside by a judge who claimed racial bias in jury selection. A second trial resulted in acquittal.

You can see it all if you're a dedicated voyeur or unemployed.

We followed both trials. Link

We also followed the trial of Bakersfield, California vice-principal Vincent Brothers who was convicted of killing his mother-in-law, his wife, and their three children, Marques, age 4; Lyndsey, age 2; Marshall, age 6 weeks. Somehow, though, we knew which trial they wouldn't highlight. Link

Hernando, MISSISSIPPI

Arrested for selling drugs to an undercover officer.

Dec 17, 2007 - Melinda Haas, 48, a DeSoto County School Bus driver, who is also a substitute teacher, was arrested for selling drugs to an undercover police officer.

According to investigators 48 year-old Melinda Haas sold and delivered a bottle of liquid Morphine and 50 Xanax pills to an undercover officer of the West Memphis Police Department.

Laurel, MISSISSIPPI

Dec 10, 2007 - James Nowlin, 61, a retired Northeast Jones High School teacher, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and five years supervised release.

Nowlin was accused of using his personal computer to lure a minor under the age of 16 into sex. He pleaded guilty in September.

He was a teacher for 32 years.
TT- The sentence is federal which means there is no parole.

Jackson, MISSISSIPPI

When schools investigate themselves and their employees, it's a blantant conflict of interest.

Dec 7, 2007 - James Foxx, a Forest Hill High School art teacher, pleaded not guilty to simple assault charge for allegedly kissing and groping a student in April.

After the 18-year-old girl complained, the school district sent a letter to the girl's family saying Foxx was suspended for five days without pay. The letter, signed by an attorney for the district, says the district couldn't substantiate sexual harassment allegations but did find evidence of unprofessional conduct and poor judgment by Foxx.

The district's letter said Foxx, however, maintained none of those contacts was sexual.

The parents were under the impression he had been fired.

In November, a judge found enough probable cause to issue an arrest warrant. Foxx is scheduled to appear in court on Feb 4.

Jackson, MISSISSIPPI

JUDGE ORDERED RETRIAL. Second trial jury found her not guilty.

Jan 1, 2007 - WLBT-3 will follow as "High Profile Cases Head to Court" including court for two Jackson Public School teachers.

First, there is the preliminary hearing for Carla Hughes. (Our entry for Hughes) scheduled for Jan 2nd.

Then, jury selection begins for is Elicia Hughes, 28. (No relation) She is the school teacher who was arrested for the 2004 murder of her husband, Brian Hughes. He was shot several [turns out to be 6] times inside the couple's home in Jackson.

TRIAL (Jan 3) Trial begins for Elicia Hughes. Hughes remains on administrative leave from her teaching post at a Jackson elementary school.

UPDATE: (Jan 5) Husband was insured for $250,000.

UPDATE: (Jan 8) Brian Hughes was a philandering husband and lawyer speculates which might have lead someone else to shoot him.

GUILTY VERDICT (Jan 10) Jury found Hughes guilty. Circuit Judge Winston Kidd sentenced Hughes, 35, a former Jackson Public Schools teacher, to life in prison. The Hughes had two children, ages 3 and 4, at the time of the murder.

RETRIAL ORDERED (Feb 22) - A circuit judge has ordered a retrial on the grounds that one of the reasons the state gave for striking a potential juror was not race neutral. Prosecutors in the Hinds County District Attorney's office had to explain why they used all their strikes to remove potential African-American jurors from Hughes' murder trial.

TRIAL DATE SCHEDULED (Apr 15) - A new date has been set for the re-trial of Hughes. The trial is scheduled for Nov 5.

RETRIAL - Nov 4 - The retrial is set to begin Tuesday.

NOT GUILTY VERDICT Nov 16 - The jury found Hughes not guilty.

Jan 2, 2008 - SleazeTV running tapes of the trial.