Charges Against Maryland Teacher Dropped - Updated

(Salisbury, Maryland) All charges against Carole Leigh Mayers were dropped this morning. (h/t Kelly)

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Maryland Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse of Minor - Updated
[Previous 2/4/09 post]
(Salisbury, Maryland) Former Wicomico County state's attorney Andrew M. MacDonald, defense counsel for 41-year-old Carole Leigh Mayers, has filed a motion to dismiss the case based on the vagueness of allegations and maturity of the victim.

Interesting.

Lawyer MacDonald is attacking the validity of the prosecution's case before it has been presented at trial while also introducing a new legal twist. He claims the alleged, now 17-year-old, victim was too mature to be a victim.

Lawyer MacDonald's contention that the victim exhibits maturity is reportedly based on several factors: 1) Victim is doing a girlfriend who lives with him at his mom's house, 2) Victim dropped out of school, 3) Victim is an admitted illegal drug user, 4) Victim is an admitted porn addict and 5) Victim is "voluntarily sexually active." Frankly, one might mistakenly think that the victim was on trial.

Now, I checked several definitions of maturity and none of those characteristics were included but, who knows, the court may buy MacDonald's argument. A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for Friday (2/6).

It's noteworthy that Mayers' lawyer is the former Wicomico County prosecutor and the current prosecutor recused himself due to conflict of interest. I sense that the case has become somewhat politicized.


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Maryland Teacher Accused of Improper Relations with Student
[Previous 11/19/08 post]
(Salisbury, Maryland) A 41-year-old music teacher at Salisbury Christian School, Carole Leigh Mayers, was arrested today for an alleged improper relationship with a former student. The Child Advocacy Center alerted the authorities.

According to Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, the relationship was enduring. The victim's gender wasn't reported.

Mayers faces multiple child sex charges including third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, child abuse and perverted practice.


[Update 12/9/08]

(Salisbury, Maryland) Yesterday, a Wicomico County grand jury indicted Carole Leigh Mayers on 16 counts, including sex abuse of a minor and showing and distributing obscene material to a minor. Mayers was booked into custody at the Wicomico County Detention Center with bond set at $100,000.