(8/14/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Carrie O’Connor, 34, of Mount Vernon, Georgia and a Montgomery County High School guidance counselor has been indicted on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student.
Reportedly, Christopher Bowman, a former teacher at the school, reported O’Connor’s alleged behavior to the school’s juvenile probation officer and to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission claiming that the relationship started when O’Connor and the student were returning from a basketball game in Macon. Bowman allegedly quoted the student as indicating that he and O’Connor had sex in O’Connor’s car and in her home.
Allegedly the sexual relationship between O’Connor and the boy occurred between January and July of this year.
O’Connor’s mother, school superintendent Dale Clark, has been quoted in the media as stating that her daughter is entitled to continue working at the high school until she is found guilty of the charge. Clark’s statement is contradicted by officials with other school systems that say that a school employee under indictment can be placed on administrative leave with pay until the issue is resolved.
It is being reported by Vidalia Communications that:
Last week Montgomery High School principal Luke Smith reassigned the student involved to the Tri-County Alternative School after the GBI said the student and Mrs. O’Connor were to have no contact. A day later he was re-admitted to the high school after his lawyer objected to the school’s decision.
Also, according to the same Vidalia Communications report, Mrs. Clark is under investigation by the Professional Standards Commission for possible violation of the Code of Ethics for Educators.
Carrie O’Connor was released from the Irwin County jail on $20,000 mid-day Tuesday following her Monday night arrest.
A report dated today by WTOC in Savannah quotes Montgomery County High School Principal Luke Smith as saying in reference to O’Connor “She’s not here today, but she has been. She’s been here since school started. If she shows up here, as far as I can tell, she will be allowed to work until further notice.”
The following is the OPINION of the webmaster of Bad Bad Teacher:
The initial reports of this case raise very grave issues regarding both the treatment of the alleged victim and the appearance of preferential treatment for the accused on the part of the school and school system administration.Both issues appear, in the opinion of this writer, to arise from the fact that the mother of the accused is the Superintendent of the school district in which the illegal activity is alleged to have taken place and with a student of that district.
That a school principal would attempt to transfer the alleged victim from the school, leaving the alleged criminal in place is simply outrageous and grossly inexcusable and should be grounds for evaluation of the principal’s fitness to retain the position and in fact grounds to evaluate his employment with the school district.
The very appearance of preferential treatment for the accused simply owing to the fact that “her mommy” is the Superintendent of the school system is grounds for the Superintendent to totally step-aside from everything involved with this criminal case and to possibly step-down from her position with the school system.
When it is alleged that children are being victimized by school employees the last thing that society needs, wants or deserves is a family member of the accused in the highest position of authority in the school system.
Update 9/12/07:
The Ethics Committee of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission has recommended that the state revoke the professional credentials of school superintendent Dale Clark and her daughter Carrie O’Connor.
The committee recommends that O’Connor’s credentials be revoked in light of her having been indicted for having sex with a 16-year-old male student. The committee recommends that Clark’s credentials be revoked for her alleged failure to report the inappropriate sexual contact between her daughter and the student, and for the alleged misuse of public funds by permitting family members of school system employees to use school supplied cell phones.
The full Georgia Professional Standards Commission will consider the committee’s recommendations at a meeting tomorrow in Atlanta. Should the Commission vote to revoke either or both women’s credentials it will effectively terminate their employment by the school system, although both will have the option to appeal and/or pursue the matter in the courts.
Update 9/18/07:
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission voted last week to take away the teaching credentials of Carrie O’Connor and those of her mother, Superintendent Dale Clark.
Reportedly O’Connor says that she and her mother plan to appeal the commission’s ruling. They have 30 days to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.
1/31/08 - Trial Scheduled But May Be Delayed
According to a Vidalia Communications report the trial of Carrie O’Connor is currently scheduled for February 11th, however her attorney is requesting a continuance owing to complications following surgery.
04/04/08 - Civil Lawsuit Dropped
The mother of the alleged victim having previously filed lawsuit for $2 million against the Montgomery County Board of Education, the teacher and the school superintendent has withdrawn that lawsuit.
A jury trial for Carrie O’Connor is currently expected in either August 2008 or February 2009.
06/30/08 - Update
The bond revocation hearing for Carrie O’Conner which was set for June 27th has been delayed until July 23rd.
This is the second delay of the hearing. The first delay took place when O’Connor’s attorney asked the judge for more time to prepare. The second delay is reportedly due to illness. The state is seeking to revoke O’Connor’s bond on allegations that she violated her conditions of bond.
On the criminal case, O’Connor has waived her arraignment and entered a not guilty plea.
O’Connor’s alleged victim and his mother are reportedly attempting to obtain a criminal warrant against O’Connor’s mother, Dale Clark, on allegations that she made terroristic threats against them.
The attorney for the mother of the alleged victim who withdrew her civil lawsuit in Montgomery County Superior Court last March has filed a similar lawsuit in federal court. The attorney said, “I have lost faith in the prospect of getting any kind of impartial proceeding in Montgomery County”.
07/24/08 - Carrie O’Connor Jailed
According to a Vidalia Communications report the judge has revoked the bond of Carrie O’Connor and ordered her jailed pending trial, currently set for August.
Reportedly the judge revoked her bond after listening to a “profanity laced tape” allegedly of O’Connor speaking on the telephone with the alleged victim in direct violation of a no-contact order by the judge.
O’Connor is currently being held in the Irwin County Detention Center.
08/14/08 - Trial May Be Delayed, O’Connor Still Jailed
According to a Vidalia Communications report, the attorney for Carrie O’Connor has notified the judge that she is still under a doctor’s care and likely will not be ready for O’Connor’s trial scheduled for next week.
O’Connor’s attorney is seeking a delay in the trial and also the release of her client on “house arrest” until trial.
O’Connor remains jailed due to her bond being revoked for violating her conditions of bond.
08/20/08 - Trial Delayed
The trial of Carrie O’Connor has been delayed until November 17th.
Earlier this week the DA’s office and O’Connor’s attorney agreed to the delay which is the due to illness on the part of O’Connor’s attorney.
O’Connor remains jailed for violating conditions of her earlier bond.
10/08/08 - O’Connor Freed On Bond Again
Reportedly Carrie O’Connor has been once again released on bond, after her $20,000
bond was reinstated by Superior Court Judge Frederick Mullis.
Judge Mullis had previously revoked O’Connor’s bond due to alleged violation of its conditions.
References:
O’Connor Released on Bond (10/07/08)
O’Connor Attorney Wants Trial Delay
Bond Revoked for Guidance Counselor, Charged with Sexual Assault (07/23/08)
Former High School Counselor Jailed (07/23/08) (Note: this report will be available only on a short-term basis)
Montgomery Mother Drops Suit (04/04/08)
Superintendent on Paid Leave (9/21/07)
Superintendent, Daughter Lose Licenses in Student Sex Case (9/18/07)
State Committee Recommends Revocation for Montgomery Co Educators (9/12/07) (Note: this report will be available only on a short-term basis)
Montgomery County Guidance Counselor Arrested for Sexual Assault (8/14/07)
“High School Counselor Indicted in Montgomery Co” and “O’Conner Makes Bond” appear temporarily available on the Vidalia Communications Web Site (8/14/07)
School Counselor Indicted for Sexual Assault (8/14/07)
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Entries (RSS)
October 8th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Carrie is a wonderful and beautiful person. As far as I am
concerned she is not guilty of anything.
Freedom is a wonderful thing.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Carrie is hot!!!! I wish see was my counselor…..
September 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
You know…Isn’t it amazing that since carrie has been in jail the mexican rapes have decreased in the area. I feel so much safer …. do you?