UPDATE May 11, 2010: FOUND NOT GUILTYChickamuaga, GA (The Weekly Vice) -- Tonya Henke Craft, a 36 year old kindergarten teacher at Chickamauga Elementary School in Chickamauga, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with four counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated sexual battery against a child.
According to police, Craft engaged in sexual contact with three female students, which included fondling and digital penetration. Police say the alleged incidence occurred between August 10th, 2005 and May 10th, 2007. The alleged sexual contact occurred at Craft's residence during sleepovers, according to Sheriff's Dept. Capt. Scott Jordan.
The mother of one of the victims has stated that she was a friend of Craft at one time.
Craft's attorney is stating that his client adamantly denies the charges and says she was never given the opportunity to explain her side of the story. Craft also states that she was told the charges would not be pursued if Craft passed a polygraph test, according to defense attorney Chris Townley. That test, according to the defense, was never implemented.
Tonya Craft turned herself into the Catoosa County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday, but was later released on a $50,000 bond.
UPDATE:
The Catoosa County Sheriff's Department issued a statement today disputing the claims made by Craft's attorney in regards to allowing the defendant to respond to the allegations and to his claim of the polygraph test.
"I disagree with the information provided yesterday by (Townley) in regards to the handling of this case. It appears statements were made that law enforcement never attempted to interview Ms. Craft and that she agreed to a polygraph test but law enforcement refused to administer this test. I feel it is important to correct statements made to the news media in regards to this case," said Phil Summers of the Catoosa County Sheriff's Dept.
The Sheriff also addressed the issues of the polygraph test claim by stating "Ms. Craft's attorney would not agree for her to take a 'stipulated' polygraph test. Mr. Townley discussed with the District Attorney's Office the possibility of an 'unstipulated' polygraph test which ultimately the District Attorney's Office declined."
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com
According to police, Craft engaged in sexual contact with three female students, which included fondling and digital penetration. Police say the alleged incidence occurred between August 10th, 2005 and May 10th, 2007. The alleged sexual contact occurred at Craft's residence during sleepovers, according to Sheriff's Dept. Capt. Scott Jordan.
The mother of one of the victims has stated that she was a friend of Craft at one time.
Craft's attorney is stating that his client adamantly denies the charges and says she was never given the opportunity to explain her side of the story. Craft also states that she was told the charges would not be pursued if Craft passed a polygraph test, according to defense attorney Chris Townley. That test, according to the defense, was never implemented.
Tonya Craft turned herself into the Catoosa County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday, but was later released on a $50,000 bond.
UPDATE:
The Catoosa County Sheriff's Department issued a statement today disputing the claims made by Craft's attorney in regards to allowing the defendant to respond to the allegations and to his claim of the polygraph test.
"I disagree with the information provided yesterday by (Townley) in regards to the handling of this case. It appears statements were made that law enforcement never attempted to interview Ms. Craft and that she agreed to a polygraph test but law enforcement refused to administer this test. I feel it is important to correct statements made to the news media in regards to this case," said Phil Summers of the Catoosa County Sheriff's Dept.
The Sheriff also addressed the issues of the polygraph test claim by stating "Ms. Craft's attorney would not agree for her to take a 'stipulated' polygraph test. Mr. Townley discussed with the District Attorney's Office the possibility of an 'unstipulated' polygraph test which ultimately the District Attorney's Office declined."
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com
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18 comments:
Humm, well a little note to the woman's counsel. The police department may be investigating the crime, but it's not up to them to make deals with the defendant about how to proceed with charges.
Sounds like this woman is toast. Multiple victims make it hard to say one is lying.
Enjoy jail
There is another side to this story...
I have known Tonya for several years and have serious doubts that she would be capable of such activity. She is still INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. There has been no proof given by the media as it will not come out until trial... if the general public ever hears it.
Reserve your judgement until there is substantial evidence to actually judge.
Well I believe the Sheriff regarding the polygraph flap - and if he's right, there's proof right from the start that the woman is lying.
And for your information, I have no intention of reserving simply because you're too stupid to form an opinion on your own.
Goodbye.
Unbelievable, try reading the articles and comprehending before you write.
Furthermore, any intelligent person would know that only a few of the most sensational details are publicized after being twisted be the media to create the best story.
You said,"I have no intention of reserving simply because you're too stupid to form an opinion on your own."
Anonymous sound like the smart one, here.
Excuse me?
I am not the media.
I do not write my articles from comments of the media.
I form our articles from the arrest affidavit, press releases, comments from the defence attorney and other reliable resources.
If you'd like to point out what part of this article is not factual, then please do so.
I gave Tonya's attorney his say, and he is welcome to contact me with a further comment if he likes.
I have also posted the Sheriff's recent comments refutiating the claims made by the defence.
Everybody has been given a say here - and if they want to add further information, they are welcome.
You are welcome to post a dessenting point of view, however don't come into my blog and accuse me of sensationalising or twisting the facts, when the info I use comes directly from the arrest report.
I have made posting on this blog extremely easy. You don't have to sign up, you don't have to log-in, you don't even have to type out a security code.
I've been as fair as humanly possible to a situation that involves an extremely serious charge.
If she is found innocent, we'll be posting that too.
If not, then she will and SHOULD be jailed. Child predators are not going to be given a pass here.
I also know Tonya, and HER CHILDREN and I can absolutly believe she did this. She and her exhusband are both perverts. I am not surprised in the least.
quoting " Anonymous said...
There is another side to this story...
I have known Tonya for several years and have serious doubts that she would be capable of such activity. She is still INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. There has been no proof given by the media as it will not come out until trial... if the general public ever hears it.
Reserve your judgement until there is substantial evidence to actually judge.
June 12, 2008 5:35 AM "
Danny Vice,
For the record, I NEVER said that your information was inaccurate. I simply mean that there is information that cannot be released by the police department, district attorney's office or anyone's attorney for obvious reasons!
As much as I believe you have done your research and have a great site... there is still information that even you are not privy to.
I don't have all of the information either, which is WHY I believe that reserving judgement until we have more information is the most reasonable course of action.
My apologies if you misread my intentions.
Absolutely right, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law not on a website.
Have there been any recent developments in this case?
i know tonya personally and was around her often when this was supposedly going on.
now, it was apparent to anyone that was in her company during this period of time that she wasn't right. she said weird things, and there was always something about her that i just could never put my finger on.
here's whats gonna throw her in the frying pan with no way out,
there is a woman that went to high school with tonya and has factual information that she had a lesbian lover in high school. if she testifies, henke is toast, because the alleged victims are females.
i heard that the authorities were interviewing 16 other children... anyone heard anything else?
Heard through the grapevine that the school board is meeting Friday at 1 to fire Tonya. Nothing else has been said, but she's not in the classroom this year.
I heard that supporters of either side are asked to attend.
She turned herself in a couple of days ago and was released on an or bond per the judge. She was charged with a new aggravated battery. She was kept in a cell by herself and had nothing to say. i think she was released on an or so she wouldnt have to be housed in general population. Because we all know what they do to child molesters in jail.
Update: 6/11/2008 Tanya was arrested (and later bonded out on $50k bond).
In the interim, the court issued public statements condeming the defendant. Much later, when the defendant started exercizing her right to air her position to the public over radio, TV, and newspapers (finding I might add a very sympathetic public!), the judge clamped a gag order on her and the defense team.
3/8/10 Judge refused to remove prosecutor for having told the Sheriff and witnesses to ignore defendant subpoenas. Judge also denied most of about 30 other defense petitions this date. Judge did finally allow defense attorney access to evidence previsouly supoenaed. The prosecutors had with-held information telling the defense that the information would be provided during the "discovery" phase of the proceedings. It's a real judicial mess.
More can be found online by searching. Regardless of which way you are leaning, in this country a person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasoable doubt. I am local to this case and honestly believe this woman is apparently being railroaded.
williamlanderson.blogspot.com is the most accurate and incteful place to find the up to date info on this case.
Who has a bigger bank account now? Who looks like they could be guilty of slander now? It was not Tonya shaving in the shower and explaining how it is done with a child. Why did the DA drop the ball on that female? Did the little actress mother get mad because her daughter was ask to behave in a reasonable manner? Or was it the fact that the mother would not take holding the little hunching pole dancer back in school for one more year? Why would a district attorney with no more evidence even allow this to be brought to courtroom? He is paid to be working for the people of the state. Why would Judge House even want to be involved with this case? Is there money flowing into personal accounts that could be considered questionable at best?
In these questions maybe some very informative answers as to why this young Lady could be a person who has been slandered.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20003797-504083.html#addcomm
This is another link with national coverage about this case.
Do I see smiles.
for people who did not paste the links that anon posted. She was found not guilty on all counts. I guess now will come the law suits.....
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