Substitute teachers pleads to statutory rape

By Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com

July 24, 2008 04:38 pm

— A substitute teacher formerly in the Cumberland County school system has pleaded guilty to an information to the charge of statutory rape and will face a sentencing hearing in Criminal Court on Sept. 26.
Heather Michelle Chesser, 27, who at the time of her arrest in January listed a Griever's Chapel Rd. address, was originally indicted by the Cumberland County Grand Jury on two counts each of statutory rape by an authority figure and sexual battery by an authority figure.
In an information filed with the court by her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Cynthia Lyons, and accepted by Assistant District Attorney General Gary McKinzie and Judge Leon Burns, Chesser waived her right to grand jury action and pleaded guilty to the new charge.
Statutory rape carries a 1-2 year prison sentence, which can be probated, and up to a $3,000 fine.
In early December of last year news broke of accusations of improper conduct between a student and a substitute teacher at the Phoenix School. A resulting investigation led to the grand jury indictment handed down the following month.
In other cases on the July 10 docket, the following took place:
Guilty pleas
•Gregory Lawson Oakes, 43, charged with aggravated domestic assault and felony reckless endangerment, pleaded guilty to simple assault and reckless endangerment. He will appear for a sentencing hearing Sept. 26.
Arraignment
•David Scott Kirkland, theft more than $10,000, vandalism more than $1,000, worthless check less than $500 and filing a false report, continued until Sept. 24.
•Timothy Taylor, domestic assault and kidnapping, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; continued until Sept. 24.
Deadline docket
•Donathan Herron, attempt to pass a forged instrument, continued until Sept. 26 at which time defendant is to return to court with an attorney.
•Katrina Marie Mosley, 16 counts of forgery and 16 counts of passing a forged instrument, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; continued until Sept. 24.
•Jimmy Franklin Brown Jr., aggravated burglary, theft more than $1,000, aggravated assault on an officer, attempted escape and vandalism of government property, bond set at $15,000 and continued until July 21.
•Thomas C. McGill, aggravated burglary, theft less than $500 and vandalism less than $500, continued until Aug. 20.
•Teresa Lynn Randolph, four counts of TennCare fraud, continued until Sept. 24.
•Lennie Dwain Roe, aggravated assault and reckless aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, review set for July 21; continued to Aug. 20.
•John J. Sexton, aggravated child abuse of a child under the age of six, continued until Aug. 20.
•Michael D. Farmer, manufacturing more than 20 marijuana plants, continued until Aug. 20 at which time defendant is to return to court with an attorney.
•Shawn Michael King, child abuse of a child under the age of six, dropped.
Probation violation
•Johnathan Kendrick Cravens, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, Robert Zecher appointed to represent the defendant; probation revocation hearing continued until Sept. 2.
•Michael D. Fisher, theft more than $500, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; probation revocation hearing continued until Aug. 20.
•Lloyd D. Frazier, two counts each of fourth offense drunk driving and third offense revoked license, revocation hearing continued until Sept. 19.
•Amber June Haynes, theft more than $1,000 and vandalism more than $1,000, probation revocation hearing set for Sept. 26.
•Larry K. Mott, theft more than $500, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; bond denied and probation revoked; ordered to serve remainder of his sentence.
•Kari Jo Trembley, two counts each of burglary, theft less than $500 and vandalism, Robert Zecher appointed to represent the defendant; probation revocation hearing set for Sept. 26.
•Augusta McDonald, initiation of the manufacture of methamphetamine, promotion of manufacture of methamphetamine, resisting arrest and carrying a weapon, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; revocation hearing set for Sept. 26.
•Brad Lane Parsons, 17 counts of worthless checks less than $500, worthless check more than $500 and attempting to pass, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; bond denied; revocation hearing set for July 21.
Community corrections
•Robin Michelle Brown, burglary and theft more than $1,000, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; continued to July 21.
•Angel Kaye Hood, possession of methamphetamine for resale, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, Public Defender's Office appointed to represent the defendant; revocation hearing continued until Sept. 24.
Motions and hearings
•Hobert D. Tuttle, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or deliver, evading arrest, simple possession of meth, possession of cocaine for sale or delivery and three counts of revoked license, motion to waive nearly $2,000 fines and court costs hearing set for Nov. 26.
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