Rocky Mount, North Carolina (The Weekly Vice) -- Kelly Bartz, a 39 year old former teacher at Rocky Mount High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of sexual activity between an educator and a student.
Although specific details about the case have not been forthcoming, authorities believe Bartz had sexual contact with a student (who is now 18) earlier in the school year while he was 17 year old.
The alleged victim's mother told authorities that her son told her in December 2007 that he was seeing a teacher, although she says she brushed it off as a joke at the time. She states however that she began to see changes in her son's grades and sports.
"I feel because of her (Bartz) actions, it has caused him to fall back and he didn't pass his grades," she said.
The mother also said she approached school officials about the matter in May or June, however Tommy Finch, the Asst. Superintendent of Administrative Services allegedly told her they would not take action until the teacher was charged.
Bartz resigned her position at the school on June 30th after the indictment for her arrest was issued.
She was arrested and booked into the Nash County Jail. She was released a short time later on a $2,000 bond.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
There are a few more details out there on this case, however they involve the continuous soapboxing of the mother, who we don't think should be issuing press releases on the matter. We want to know what investigators say - a mother could say anything.
We're very tough on sex offending teachers here on the Vice, which is why we want want to hear something more than a "feeling" or a guess before lambasting this teacher for a sex crime.
Declining grades can occur because of any number of reasons. It does not mean a teacher engaged in a sexual relationship. We'd like to know a few more details that relates directly to the alleged crime before moving forward with additional details on the case.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
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7 comments:
Bad judgment yes, but there's no victim here.
Chris,
Teacher/student sex crime really isn't a victim focused charge. It's more of an ethics violation from a legal standpoint because of the nature of the teacher's authority over the student.
Morally speaking, yes, referring to the student as a victim, when he was almost 18 is almost a misnomer. But legally and ethically, there may be a case if investigators can come up with more than they've released thus far - which is almost nothing outside of a mother's statements.
I know both the 'victim' and the accused and I can say he went after her relentlessly, and he is a much bigger man than she is at 5'3". So to say he is the victim is ridiculous. He went after what he wanted and wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. When she wanted to end it he threatened her and wouldn't let her go. She has always been a kind and compassionate person who would do anything for anyone. I bet that changes now.
"who would do anything for anyone"
That's the problem...I think that's what got her in trouble. She should confine her charity work to singles bars.
Damn fine gal with a low self esteem? Let me get her phone number!
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/jurors-clear-bartz-717845.html
7/15/09 not guilty!
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