HUEYTOWN, Ala. – Alabama high school principal Joe Garner is facing several misdemeanor charges for failing to report suspected inappropriate relationships between a teacher and students.
Police allege the Hueytown High School principal investigated a teacher over allegations she sexually abused students that involved administrators interviewing numerous staff and students and reviewing phone records, AL.com reports.
MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK
Hueytown police allege school officials closed the case when they could not substantiate the claims, and it was only uncovered after launched their own investigation into the same teacher a few weeks ago.
Hueytown Police Chief Chuck Hagler told AL.com the investigation itself is evidence officials suspected child abuse, and Alabama law clearly states that educators and school officials are legally required to report it.
“The reporting law says when they suspect a student is a victim of a crime, they are supposed to report it to us,” Hagler said. “Their own paperwork establishes they were well beyond suspecting a crime. Also, when our detectives asked the principal about it, he was not truthful. The conduct rose to a level of a crime.”
Hueytown Police told WBRC Garner was inconsistent in describing the initial investigation and didn’t report the suspected abuse in a timely manner. The female teacher at the center of the controversy is currently on paid administrative leave as Hueytown Police continue their investigation.
Police charged the 47-year-old principal with obstruction of a governmental operation and a violation of the state’s mandatory reporting law, both misdemeanors.
AL.com reports Garner was also wanted for allegedly writing a bad check.
MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes
He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail earlier this month and is now free on an $8,500 bond. He’s still on the district’s payroll as principal of Hueytown High School but took a temporary leave to get his life together.
Garner’s attorney, John Robbins, is adamant that the principal did nothing wrong.
“Joseph Garner has not been put on administrative leave. As is his right, he is choosing to take a few … personal days to handle some personal business,” Robbins said. “He enjoys the support of the school board, the student body, and members of the community. He remains committed to his job as principal of Hueytown High School and to the students.
“His main focus is the students and doing everything that he can do to help them develop their talents and pursue their dreams,” he said. “Joe has done, and continues to do, an excellent job as principal.”
Jefferson County Superintendent Craig Pouncey is also standing behind Garner, who worked previously as a police lieutenant and U.S. Army Reserves captain.
“Dr. Garner is an honest, Christian man and to accuse him of a cover up I think is false,” Pouncey told WBRC.
“Dr. Garner has been a staunch advocate for the safety and welfare of the children,” Pouncey told AL.com. “He’s a fine person…I was surprised at this turn of events without discussion with us as the employer.”
Robbins implied police may have ulterior motives for charging his client.
“These charges are ridiculous, and the motive behind them is suspect. We look forward to our day in court because then the true acts come out, Joe will be vindicated,” Robbins said. “I hope that when that day comes, and it can’t come soon enough, that his detractors will be just as enthusiastic in restoring his reputation as they currently are in trying to tear it down.”
Hager said police are now struggling with their case against the teacher “because of the way (school officials) handled the previous investigation, evidence on cell phones were deleted.”
Join the Discussion
Comments are currently closed.