Ringgold, Ga.: Mother of alleged victim testifies in molestation case

The mother of the first alleged victim in the child molestation trial for a former kindergarten teacher testified this morning.

She said that, one night in May 2008, her daughter told her that defendant Tonya Craft had touched her inappropriately when she visited her former teacher's home.

Her daughter, who now is 9, was in Ms. Craft's kindergarten class in the 2005-2006 school year.

When her daughter told about the incident, the witness testified that she remained calm, then told her husband what the girl had said.

When Catoosa County Assistant District Attorney Chris Arnt asked the witness if she ever confronted Ms. Craft about her daughter, the woman said 'No."

"I just didn't talk to her again," she said.

This is the second week of trial for Ms. Craft, a former Chickamauga Elementary School kindergarten teacher who is charged with 22 counts of child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated child molestation.

One of Ms. Craft's attorney's began cross-examining the witness shortly before the court was dismissed for lunch.

Defense attorney Scott King showed the witness photos of Ms. Craft and her daughter and asked her if the witness' her daughter enjoyed being around Ms. Craft.

She said at the time, her daughter did.

Mr. King is expected to continue questioning the witness after lunch.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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