(1/25/08 – Initial BBT Report)
Loni Marie Folks, 24, a fifth-grade teacher at W.L. Smith Elementary in Petal, Mississippi has been arrested on allegations of the sexual battery of a 16-year-old male exchange student that was living in the home with Folks and her husband.
Folks came to the attention of authorities by way of a complaint from “a member of the community”.
At an initial court appearance bond for Folks was set at $30,000 and conditioned upon her avoiding all contact with the student.
Folks was released from the Forrest County Jail after making bond and has been placed on administrative leave by the school system.
05/15/08 – Trial Date Set
Loni Folks has been set for trial on charges of sexual battery on August 8th.
Folks remains free on $30,000 bond.
08/25/08 – Trial Postponed
The trial of Loni Folks scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed, reportedly due to her attorney being busy with other trials.
No new trial date has been set, although Folks’ attorney says that a November trial is possible.
09/04/08 – New Trial Date Set
The trial of Loni Folks has now been scheduled for November 19th.
Folks remains free on $30,000 bond.
11/11/08 – Folks’ Lawyer Says Confession Coerced
The attorney for Loni Folks says that police coerced Folks into confessing to having sex with a 16-year-old foreign exchange student.
Folks’ attorney has reportedly filed a motion to have Folks’ confession tossed out and the charge against dismissed, claiming that police officers threatened to keep Folks detained if she did not confess.
11/18/08 – Guilty Plea
Loni Folks has pleaded guilty to sexual battery.
Folks who faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison had she gone to trial and been convicted was instead sentenced to a suspended 12-year prison sentence.
Folks will be required to serve five years of post-supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
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References:
Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sexual battery (11/18/08)
Lawyer: Confession coerced (11/11/08)
Trial date set for Petal teacher (09/04/08)
Sexual battery trial gets postponed for Petal teacher (08/24/08)
Sexual battery trial to begin for Petal teacher (05/15/08)
Teacher arrested, faces sex charges (1/26/08)
Teacher makes bond (1/26/08)
Petal teacher arrested on sexual battery charge (1/25/08)
Entries (RSS)
December 1st, 2008 at 9:07 am
Ju Ju…so you say we are judging withouth the knowledge to do so??? Well, all the knowledge we need is that this adult was dumb enough to engage in ANY kind of sexual activity with a MINOR. If it was your son, what would you do? I bet you would hate the lady…but because she is a friend of yours you feel so sorry for her. Anyone who does anything with a minor is dumb and should suffer the consequences. This girl is obviously not an adult and obviously has problems. Ok so lets say it was a moment of stupidity, well if thats the case, why did she go write a love poem to him. She’s got issues. maybe she is a good mom, i dont really know, but i still think its in the kids best interest to live with their father. And since you are her friend of course you would say the father doesnt want them! Anyways, it is unfortunate what has happened but it was her own stupidity that got her there. Stupid stupid girl. maybe she has learned her lesson.