Wednesday, April 4, 2001
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Wednesday, April 4, 2001 |
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School porn nets charges Substitute teacher, 19, fired after middle school Web incident By MONROE ROARK
A substitute teacher faces criminal charges after allegedly visiting pornography Web sites with students present in a middle school classroom two weeks ago. Charlie Sheets, 19, turned himself in to authorities Friday amid charges of contributing to the delinquency and deprivation of a minor, according to Fayette County School System spokesman Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. He posted bond and was released Friday as well, the official said. Sheets was presiding over a social studies class at Whitewater Middle School March 20 when he allegedly allowed students to see inappropriate pictures on a computer, Berry-Dreisbach said. After an investigation by the school's resource officer, the case is now in the hands of Solicitor Steve Harris and will likely be heard in State Court. The resource officer determined that as many as 52 students were affected by the incident, she added, but it will be up to Harris to determine how many counts are brought. The charge, a misdemeanor, brings with it a possible sentence of 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine on each count. The material viewed on the computer was either "nude, partially nude or sexually related photographs or cartoons," Berry-Dreisbach said. The class consisted of seventh- and eighth-graders. Sheets has been permanently removed from the county's substitute teacher list. State law allows anyone 18 or older with a high school diploma to be a substitute teacher, provided other criteria are met. The Fayette County School System takes that a step further for high school teachers, requiring them to be at least 21. Berry-Dreisbach stressed that once the incident was reported, the investigation was thorough and prompt. "This was not something the school system took lightly," she said. "We acted promptly and are proceeding as we should be." Harris said Tuesday that he is working with the resource officer and school system officials, including computer personnel, to preserve the evidence and materials viewed by the students. "It's some very technical work," he said. Harris added that he did not believe any felonies were committed and the case will likely remain in State Court.
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