Teacher Tonya Craft Found Not Guilty - Updated

(Catoosa County, Georgia) After a day of deliberation, a jury has found Tonya Craft not guilty on 22 counts of child molestation.

Ms. Craft, a 37-year-old former kindergarten teacher in Chickamauga, was charged with child molestation based on the accounts of three alleged victims.

During the four-week trial, however, the little girls’ stories were called into question during cross-examination by the defense team.

At times the trial became contentious, with the defense using elaborate timelines on posterboards to poke holes in the case and the prosecution accusing the defense of playing to the media.

It was an emotional trial.

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Georgia Teacher and Young Girls - Updated
[Previous 5/8/09 post]
(Catoosa County, Georgia) Last year, former kindergarten teacher at Chickamauga Elementary School, Tonya Craft, was accused of illegal sexual conduct with three girls ages, seven and eight. She was booked and released on bond.

This week, 38-year-old Tonya Craft was arrested and indicted for multiple child sex crimes, including a most recent offense of aggravated sexual battery stemming from an incident where she allegedly penetrated the private parts of a girl with her fingers.

Reportedly, Craft now faces a total of 22 counts of child sex crimes. Arraignment in the case is scheduled for May 26th. A trial is expected in September.

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Georgia Teacher and Young Girls
[Previous 6/27/08 post]
(Catoosa County, Georgia) A kindergarten teacher at Chickamauga Elementary School, Tonya Craft, has been charged with four counts of illegal sexual conduct with three girls.

The charges stem from allegations that Tonya Craft, a kindergarten teacher, touched the girls inappropriately, said her attorney, Chris Townley.

The Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department brought the charges, alleging the conduct took place at Ms. Craft’s home, which is just inside Catoosa County near the Walker County border. She is charged with four counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child battery, her attorney said.

The alleged victims are seven and eight years old.

Craft was booked into custody with bond set at $50,000.

[Update 8/18/08]

Craft has been fired by the school.