Bond reduced for ex-teacher accused of sexual misconduct

Bond for the former Anna-Jonesboro teacher and coach accused of sexual misconduct with a female student was sliced by $100,000 Thursday at the Union County Courthouse.

[Two of his students]

We wern't involved beleive us we just don't think it's right that he is charged and has to go to prison, then she gets to go live her life. We support him even though HE should have been the adult and said no. It takes two not one and it was both of they're decisions.

[it_takes_two_to_ tango]

He should have been the adult. I think they were both extremely wrong. If they truly loved each other they could have waited until she turned 18. That would have been the idea situation. However, that is not how it happened.
I agree that it isn't fair that she gets to live her life while he is sitting in jail for both of their actions. She was old enough to know that what she was doing wrong. But now she has gotten what she wanted. She had an affair with her teacher, now that it's over she is the poor little girl who gets all of the damn attention wheather it be good or bad. We all know she's loving it. I would love to see her sitting in jail as well but she isn't.

[Open minded]

Maybe the girl didn't turn him in....anyone ever think of that? I have a friend in a very similair situation at the time, and she was investigated, covered it up, and then her e-mail and call log was tapped into. It was quite devestating for both of them. And she is fully paying the price now, she can't be with who she loves and is looked down upon in the community.

[it_takes_two_to_ tango]

She didn't turn him in. However I still think it is wrong that she doesn't get any punishment!

[PLEASE PEOPLE]

WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE ADULT HERE. WITH YOUR WAY OF THINKING ALL THE CHILD PREDATORS WOULD GO FREE! WHAT DOSE "UNDER AGE" MEAN TO YOU??? I SAY THROW THE BOOK AT HIM. STOP BLAMEING THE VICTIM. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME... SOMEDAY IT MAY BE YOUR CHILD, THEN HOW WILL YOU FEEL? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR THINKING??? I DONT CARE IF THE VICTIM WAS STANDING IN FROUNT OF THE PREDATOR BUTT NACKED, A CHILD IS A CHILD, A TEACHER SHOULD BE A TEACHER!DONT DO THE CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME...

[Why]

Why would a High School Girl get in to trouble, when it is Illegal to have sex with someone you have power over? Lets see maybe a TEACHER??
He shouldn't have done it, Okay to look but Never Ever Touch!! The power and position he had is what attracted her to him anyway.

[wild thang]

PLEASE PEOPLE wrote:

WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE ADULT HERE. WITH YOUR WAY OF THINKING ALL THE CHILD PREDATORS WOULD GO FREE! WHAT DOSE "UNDER AGE" MEAN TO YOU??? I SAY THROW THE BOOK AT HIM. STOP BLAMEING THE VICTIM. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME... SOMEDAY IT MAY BE YOUR CHILD, THEN HOW WILL YOU FEEL? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR THINKING??? I DONT CARE IF THE VICTIM WAS STANDING IN FROUNT OF THE PREDATOR BUTT NACKED, A CHILD IS A CHILD, A TEACHER SHOULD BE A TEACHER!DONT DO THE CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME...

well i agree with you 100%----being in a postion as a teacher he should have walked the other way but instead he acted out and im sorry but he is to blame and whether this young girl knew right from wrong -- which im sure she did-- isnt important he had the responsibility to act as an adult and stay away.... maybe sittin in the clink will give him time to think about his actions and not repeat them....

[PST]

PLEASE PEOPLE wrote:

WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE ADULT HERE. WITH YOUR WAY OF THINKING ALL THE CHILD PREDATORS WOULD GO FREE! WHAT DOSE "UNDER AGE" MEAN TO YOU??? I SAY THROW THE BOOK AT HIM. STOP BLAMEING THE VICTIM. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME... SOMEDAY IT MAY BE YOUR CHILD, THEN HOW WILL YOU FEEL? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR THINKING??? I DONT CARE IF THE VICTIM WAS STANDING IN FROUNT OF THE PREDATOR BUTT NACKED, A CHILD IS A CHILD, A TEACHER SHOULD BE A TEACHER!DONT DO THE CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME...

OMG how can any one with any sense think differently. Even though it might have been consentual, it is illegal. The teacher was fully aware of this and now his career as a teacher is probably done. He should have given this alot more thought before he CHOSE to get involved with this girl.

[PLEASE PEOPLE]

it_takes_two_to_tango wrote:

She didn't turn him in. However I still think it is wrong that she doesn't get any punishment!

PUNISH THE VICTIM??? WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

[PLEASE PEOPLE]

Open minded wrote:

Maybe the girl didn't turn him in....anyone ever think of that? I have a friend in a very similair situation at the time, and she was investigated, covered it up, and then her e-mail and call log was tapped into. It was quite devestating for both of them. And she is fully paying the price now, she can't be with who she loves and is looked down upon in the community.

VICTIMS [CHILDREN] OFTEN THINK THEY ARE "IN LOVE" THIS IS ANOTHER REASON OUR LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED AND REINFORCED FOR THESE CRIMES....AN "ADULT MIND" DOSE NOT MISTAKE SEX FOR LOVE! ASK ANY ADULT, THEY WILL TELL YOU THIS. JUST BECAUSE ONES BODY SEEMS TO BE MATURE, THAT DOSE NOT MEAN THE MIND {THINKING} IS. THIS MAN KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING...HE KNEW SHE WOULDNT TELL AS LONG AS "SHE IS IN LOVE WITH HIM" THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL THEY USE.

[PLEASE PEOPLE]

Two of his students wrote:

We wern't involved beleive us we just don't think it's right that he is charged and has to go to prison, then she gets to go live her life. We support him even though HE should have been the adult and said no. It takes two not one and it was both of they're decisions.

WILL YOU FEEL THE SAME WHEN ITS YOUR SISTER OR SOMEDAY YOUR CHILD? DO YOU REALLY THINK "SHE" ISN'T BEING PUNISHED...HE GETS MAYBE A FEW YEARS,THEN HES SET FREE TO DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. WHILE SHE IS NOT ONLY DOING LIFE BUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STINKING-THINKING.

[wonderin]

What ever happened about this incident? Is this teacher in jail or was this swept under the rug like a lot of other things that happen in WF?

[Mr J]

I don't know what happened but I would say after 3 years it's been dropped. I guess if you have enough pull you can get anything done or undone.Maybe the girl dropped the charges, with some incentive.

[some people]

wonderin wrote:

What ever happened about this incident? Is this teacher in jail or was this swept under the rug like a lot of other things that happen in WF?

What happened to good old Chuck Garnati? I thought he was the guy who said this wouldn't be let go. I think it's like everything else around here it just depends on who you are and who you know. If you're a poor person they're going to get you, if you have some backing chances are you'll get out of it. Is that the way it should work, Mr. Garnati?

[assumptions of idiots]

Well, let's just all assume we have even the slightest idea what happened in this case - since we were all there. The only people that have even met the people involved made comments and were attacked. Oh, and by all means let's assume it's been dropped and that some sort of "pull" was involved. Either take the time to learn the facts people or get lives.

[hope]

If you look at how their lives are unfolding it's apparent that karma is working. I see she is doing great...smart girl with lots going for her. She went through crap and came out a better person. He hasn't faired so well, even w/o serving jail time. Abuse, addiction,...seems to be spiraling. My fear is that there is nothing to stop him from doing this again (except who would hire him with this reputation???). I like to think there's justice even without a court's involvement.

[Mr J]

hope wrote:

If you look at how their lives are unfolding it's apparent that karma is working. I see she is doing great...smart girl with lots going for her. She went through crap and came out a better person. He hasn't faired so well, even w/o serving jail time. Abuse, addiction,...seems to be spiraling. My fear is that there is nothing to stop him from doing this again (except who would hire him with this reputation???). I like to think there's justice even without a court's involvement.

You sound like you know of this personally,and it sounds like both sides have had a hard time. I know it's been around three years, how can something drag on this long. Isn't there due process or something like that,where if it's not handled in a certain time it has to be dismissed. After all this time I'm sure they both want it to go away.

[hope]

Mr J wrote:

<quoted text>You sound like you know of this personally,and it sounds like both sides have had a hard time. I know it's been around three years, how can something drag on this long. Isn't there due process or something like that,where if it's not handled in a certain time it has to be dismissed. After all this time I'm sure they both want it to go away.

I don't know if there's a time limit...and I don't have much sympathy for the teacher, honestly. I have no doubt that he wants all of it to just disappear. That just seems too easy on him. But if she has dropped all charges (I don't know this) in an effort to move on with her life, then I imagine there is no case. Regardless, the best to her!

[Cody V]

I guess if there's grass on the field, you can play and not go to jail in Southern IL. Now that is not a reputation you should all be proud of.

[Had Not Heard]

Who was the teacher and who was the student? I hadn't heard this story yet. The only teacher story I heard was that crazy John Hixson.