RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
C'ville teacher gets three years Sharon Rutherford was sentenced to three years in the state penitentiary and given five years probation for child molestation in a split sentence issued in Clarke County Circuit Court Monday. Her attorney gave notice of an appeal of the sentencing. Rutherford, of Thomasville, was a teacher at Coffeeville High School where she was accused of having liaisons or enticing two juvenile students. Testimony during a jury trial in October revealed that she also had relationships with students of legal age. The jury found her guilty of two counts of molestation regarding the juveniles. Dr. James Best of Thomasville, associate pastor of the Thomasville Baptist Church, and Gay Hare of the Chilton community testified on Rutherford's behalf. Both answered defense attorney Richard Jensen's questions that they believed her to be a good candidate for probation. However, they also agreed when District Attorney Spence Walker asked them if they thought child molestation is a crime that deserves punishment. The mother of one of the vic- tims testified for the state that she believed Rutherford should be punished for what she did and get a substantial amount of time. Jensen pleaded with Judge Thomas Baxter for mercy and full probation in the case while DA Walker argued for the maximum sentence of 10 years. Judge Baxter took about a 30- minute break after hearing witnesses and lawyers before returning with his decision. He asked Rutherford if she had anything to say and she did not. The judge did not elaborate as he issued his sentence. In addition to the prison time and probation, Judge Baxter ordered her to pay a $2,500 fine, crime victims compensation fines and court costs. She is to not enter Coffeeville High School or to have any contact with the victims in the case. She is also to perform 100 hours of community service. All parties are still under a gag order by Judge Baxter and could not comment on the sentencing. Rutherford was handcuffed and led away by Sheriff Bobby Moore pending making an appeals bond of $20,000.
Rutherford is also charged with solicitation of murder for allegedly trying to convince one of her students with whom she had a sexual relationship to kill her husband. The couple has since divorced. Those charges may come up for trial in the spring.
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
