An 8-year-old girl who took the stand in the child molestation trial of a former kindergarten teacher said she wasn't telling the truth in part of a previously taped interview.
The alleged victim took the stand this morning in the Tonya Craft trial and told Catoosa County Assistant District Attorney Len Gregor that Ms. Craft had molested her at a slumber party. When she and three other girls — two are part of the case — were at the teacher's house, Ms. Craft touched her, she testified.
In cross-examination, defense attorney Demosthenes Lorandos spent several hours showing her the first taped interview in which she is talking with a social worker. In the interview, the child says that Ms. Craft had touched her on the outside of her clothes.
When Mr. Lorandos asked her if she was telling the truth, she said she had made "a mistake." Later he asked her again, "Were you telling the truth?"
She shook her head and said "no."
The trial currently is in lunch recess and will resume at 1:15 p.m. with the girl back on the stand.
For more details, return to www.timesfreepress.com throughout the day and read tomorrow's Times Free Press.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
Do other teachers host slumber parties with their students? What's the motivation? Apparently it was done with parental consent.
Yes. Lots of elementary school and sometimes middle school teachers do this. It can be a team-building exercise and encourages good social skills for the kids. Some of our teachers have practically raised students who had lousy parents that were never around or were horrible examples of parents (criminal behavior, gross neglect, etc.) Sometimes a teacher's home may be the only decent environment a child ever sees.
FREE THIS LADY.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.HER CAREER IS OVER JUST BASED OFF AN ACCUSATION.WHAT A TRAVESTY.SHE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TEACH AGAIN.THE "SYSTEM" HAS DESTROYED ANOTHER LIFE.
Good update on the events of the day.
Well this is how I fell about this. This women needs to be free of all of charges. Because kids at that young of an age make up things. Who's to say they haven't seen something in there on home and rather getting there family into trouble they get this teacher in trouble. What has america came to?
This is happening to my husband right now. It is bio-granddaughter. It is not true the situation has changed several times. If it was true I would through away the key myself. Of course my husband is scared after she is sweet and was only 8 who wouldn't believe her. But she has lied so much. The why society is no one wants to not believe a child. But is to easy to say and get away with it. It hurts the truly abused children. We don't know wether to go with a jury or just the judge. I would like to hear what you think.
Dear DSMD,
I recommend a judge as opposed to a jury. People, when it comes to matters involving crimes against children tend to act on a 'Better safe than sorry' mode. This is especially true when a man is the defendent. The fact that there is an accusation, sheds a bad light and question upon the character of the accused. Because the jury is usually the mediocrity, the strength of reason and reasonable doubt do not always match the integrity of the demand and definition. In other words, bias will be a stronger tool for conclusion, than will reason. Take the judge. Prepare a coherent and truthful defense.
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