Allenna Williams Ward Sentencing

The word is that former middle school teacher Allenna Williams Ward will be sentenced on Feb. 19 for criminal sexual misconduct with underaged teenage boys.

Ward is a former language arts teacher at the Bell Street Middle School in Clinton, South Carolina. Her story hit the news last year when it was revealed that Ward had been charged with having sexual contact with 5 boys between the ages of 14 and 15, some of whom were her students.

In the ensuing months Ward maintained her innocence as many charges and counter-charges were hurled between various parties involved in the case.

Then, the shocker came when Ward pleaded guilty in a plea bargain arrangement and tearfully confessed to the crimes. She waived a jury trial as part of the plea bargain and threw herself on the mercy of the Judge in the case.

After months of basically no information being provided to the news media, word came that Ward would be sentenced on Feb. 19 at the Laurens County Courthouse, although this information has not been confirmed by the Circuit Solicitor's office.

Controvery continues to swirl around this case, however, as many still do not believe that Ward is guilty but rather believe that she confessed under duress to avoid a possible conviction that could potentially land her in prison for the rest of her life.

One such person, who shall remain anonymous, sent the following letter to The Liberty Sphere concerning this case. We will publish the letter, leaving it to the reader to determine whether or not the claims contained therein merit thorough consideration.

"I have just finished reading the comments in both blogs RACIAL OVERTONES PLAGUE ALLENNA WARD CASE and ALLENNA WILLIAMS WARD SAYS ‘NOT GUILTY’

"I also watched the news video of her tearful apology for what she had done.

"That said; I still do not believe Ms. Ward is guilty of sexual misconduct with those teenagers. It is perhaps easy for someone to say they would never take a “plea bargain” if innocent as one of the folks stated. But in light of the apparent racial angle, the reaction of the neighborhood, the sad tendency of presuming guilty until proven innocent, the strains of “house arrest”, being cut off from society as normal, fear of spending perhaps years incarcerated with hardened felons – that may cause one to change their mind. This young woman’s life is ruined already – guilty or innocent – because of the accusations. Even if found innocent in a court of law she would not be able to teach again, she would be considered guilty in the eyes of many despite being found innocent. Maybe a plea bargain would offer continued house arrest for a shorter period of time. How can anyone avow they would never admit guilt when innocent unless they were in the situation themselves? Did you HEAR that young woman’s apology in court on that video? It was a prepared statement READ through her tears. She is no more guilty than I am – and I know I’m not – maybe she is taking the “best” alternative in an attempt to avoid prison time and prolonged strain and heartache for her family. She sounded like someone admitting guilt in an attempt to accept the lesser of two evils, to get it over with.

"If she is guilty, and I stand by my belief she isn’t, she needs guidance and counseling as well as the boys. With the right counseling these boys can overcome and move beyond this if they were indeed victims.

"If she is innocent she has been tainted for life either way – by accepting a plea bargain or being found innocent by the court. I cannot comprehend that many teenage boys keeping something like that a “secret”, this is a sad, sad situation. And the boys….if they ruined an innocent woman’s life will they be punished or learn anything from it?"

What say you? Do you believe at this point in the process that Ward is truly guilty or did she confess to crimes she did not commit in order to avoid a life-sentence?

Late-Breaking Update on Allenna Williams Ward

News has surfaced concerning the sentencing hearing for Allenna Williams Ward, the Clinton, South Carolina teacher who confessed to criminal sexual contact with at least 5 teenage boys.

For the complete story on the reason for the delay of sentencing, as well as a statement from State's Attorney Jerry Peace, click here:
http://carolinacountryside.blogspot.com/2008/01/late-breaking-allenna-williams-ward.html

Allenna Williams Ward and the 'Unbelievable' Teens

Many of us who wrote about the case of Allenna Williams Ward, the 23 year old Clinton, South Carolina school teacher who pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with at least 5 teenage boys, believed that the story of the teens was unbelievable...literally.

We were very wrong.

This shows that 'tall tales,' even from the lips of the youngest among us, are worthy of a thorough investigation. In many if not most cases the tall tales are probably the imaginary sagas of young minds at work. But some of the stories will be true and we cannot take the risk of dismissing them.

The following update on the Allenna Williams Ward story shows how the diligent, quiet work of a state prosecutor under immense pressure from the public got to the truth of this case:
http://carolinacountryside.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-teacher-did-what.html

Shocker! Allenna Williams Ward Pleads Guilty

A Laurens County, South Carolina courtroom was the setting today for one of the biggest shockers of the year regarding sex scandals between school teachers and their students.

Much to the shock and amazement of local residents and observers, Allenna Williams Ward, the 24-year-old middle school teacher accused of having sex with five black teenage boys, accepted a plea bargain and plead guilty to five charges of sexual misconduct.

Ward waived her right to a jury trial and broke into sobs as she admitted to the charges and apologized for the pain she had caused the students and their families, and the community.

In exchange for Ward's pleading guilty to five counts of sexual misconduct, the local Circuit Solicitor dropped the rest of the charges against Ward, which could have potentially sent her to prison for the rest of her life.

Surrounded by her parents and her husband in the courtroom, Ward asked for the forgiveness of the community.

Ward's sentence now rests entirely in the hands of the local judge, who will reportedly make his decision within 90 days.

The Ward case provides an intriguing twist in attempts to profile typical perpetrators of sexual misconduct between teachers and students. Ward never fit the profile. In fact, the story told by the teenagers involved in the case is so bizarre that few in or outside the community believed that such a thing could be true.

The teenagers had accused Ward of meeting them at various places around Clinton, South Carolina for their sexual activity, including behind a restaurant, in a motel room, in a city park, in a vehicle, as well as in the Bell Street Middle School, where Ward taught 7th grade Language Arts.

While few believed the stories, in this case the perpetrator herself says they are true. The damage done to the five teenagers should not go unpunished.

Ward would be an interesting case study in forensic psychology as the question is posed, how could a seemingly clean-cut girl from a minister's family, with no prior history indicating her behavior, wind up in this position where she faces potential jail time for engaging in sexual misconduct with five teenagers?

As far as we are concerned, that is the million-dollar question.

Update on Allenna Williams Ward Sex Scandal Case

Allenna Williams Ward, shown above, is the Middle School English teacher accused of criminal sexual misconduct with five teenage boys in Clinton, South Carolina.

Ward has plead not guilty to the charges.

The state's attorney in the case, Laurens County Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace has stated that he is attempting to work out a deal with Ward's attorney, presumably a plea bargain. Peace further stated that if a deal could not be reached with Ward and her attorney, that 'we may then try this case in a year and a half or so.'

To the casual observer this may mean nothing. But to astute observers of the court system there is plenty that can be gleaned from the words of the prosecutor.

The obvious factor that strikes us about this case is that if the allegations and charges against Ward are true, then she would be nothing less than a hardened, seasoned sexual predator, worthy of the most stringent sentence that could be leveled against her under the law.

Yet Mr. Peace is not proceeding with this case as one who actually believes he is dealing with a hardened sexual predator.

This means there are two possibilities--either Ward is entirely innocent and has been falsely accused, in which case Peace is giving things time to settle in the hope the truth comes out, or, he believes Ward is guilty but cannot amass sufficient evidence to prove her guilt in court.

At this time I tend to believe Ward is entirely innocent and has been falsely accused.

The complete silence surrounding this case is yet another odd circumstance, given the severity of the charges and allegations. Ward and her attorney have been totally silent throughout this case, which is understandable. At first the pot-bangers in Clinton took to the streets to decry the 'child molester' and such. But now even they are totally tight-lipped. So are the boys who made the accusations.

As always, The Liberty Sphere will keep you updated on all further developments.

Allenna Williams Ward Says 'Not Guilty'

Clinton, SC (TLS). Allenna Williams Ward appeared in court today to be arraigned on five counts of criminal sexual conduct on a minor and six counts of performing lewd acts on a minor.

Ward is the former Bell Street Middle School teacher who was fired from her job after being accused by five teenagers, ages 14-15, for engaging in sex with them at various public places around town.

Upon the counsel of her attorney, Ward has not spoken to the media about the case.

In court today, however, we heard directly from Ward for the very first time. When read the charges against her and asked, 'How do you plea?' Ward stated simply, 'Not guilty.'

Ward will remain under house arrest pending her trial. No trial date has been set as of yet.

Allenna Williams Ward to be Arraigned Today

Clinton, SC (TLS). Allenna Williams Ward, the 24-year-old middle school teacher accused of having sex with five male teenagers, will be arraigned in a Laurens County, SC courtroom today.

Ward will be arraigned on five counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and six counts of performing lewd acts on a minor.

The African-American community in Clinton has claimed racial motivation in Ward's bond and her subsequent release. However, Ward is being held under house arrest with an electronic device that monitors her every move and is allowed only to go to church, the doctor, to court, and to see her attorney.

Similar cases across the country reveal that persons charged with similar offenses are rarely, if ever, held without bond. In addition, Ward's bond was set at a level that rivals that of murderers. Thus, the charge of racism would seem to hold little credence.

Updated information on Ward's court appearance will be provided by The Liberty Sphere later in the day. Be sure to check back for further updates.

Allenna Williams Ward Due In Court Monday

Clinton, SC (TLS). On Friday, March 30, a Grand Jury indicted Allenna Williams Ward on five counts of criminal sexual misconduct with a minor and six counts of lewd acts on a minor.

Ward is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, April 2, 2007, to answer these charges and enter a plea.

Ward's attorney declined to give a statement or to answer any questions from the press.

Allenna Williams Ward was fired from her position as an English teacher at the Bell Street Middle School in Clinton following allegations by a group of teenagers, ages 14-15, that Ward had engaged in sexual activity with them in no less than five public places around Clinton.

Clinton is a small town of 10,000 in the upstate of South Carolina, roughly 60 miles north of the state capital of Columbia. Allenna Ward had spent her entire life in Clinton, graduating from its public schools and attending college at Clinton's Presbyterian College, where she received her teaching degree.

The Bell Street Middle School is a part of Laurens County School District 56 and was formerly an all-Black school prior to the days of integration. Laurens County is also the setting of stark racial tensions. The area is famous for the lynching of a Black man over 70 years ago, and to this day it is the setting for a KKK museum.

Some residents have quietly whispered that the rather harsh treatment of Ward, along with the mob mentality that has all but proclaimed her guilty as charged although a trial date has not even been set, is an indication of payback on the part of the town's African-American community for years of mistreatment by the area's whites in the criminal justice system.

Such sentiments would be understandable if Ward were found guilty. At this point, however, she is only charged with alleged crimes. Until she is found guilty in a court of law, she is presumed innocent of the charges.

A dangerous mindset exits among some in the African American community, however, that maintains that guilt or innocence in these cases is a non-issue. This was precisely what one activists stated in Durham in the midst of the Duke lacrosse rape scandal. According to the prevailing wisdom of the mob mentality, it does not matter if the accused is innocent. What matters is the payback for years of white mistreatment of blacks in the criminal justice system.

It is to be hoped that Ward has excellent legal counsel who can pull lots of string. He will need all the tools at his disposal to make sure his client gets a fair trial in this hotbed of racial pot-stirring.

Parents Meet With School Officials on Sex Scandal

Clinton, SC (TLS). A group of concerned parents met with school officials at the District Office of Laurens County School District 56 in Clinton concerning the recent sex scandal involving five teenagers and a middle school teacher.

Allenna Williams Ward has been charged with criminal sexual misconduct following accusations by the five teenagers that Ward had engaged in sex with them in numerous public locations around Clinton.

The meeting was called today after parents requested an update on the status of the case.

Meanwhile, organizers were getting ready to hold a candlelight vigil in Clinton on Monday evening to call for an end to student-teacher sexual liaisons and as a means of urging students to report such incidents. However, it became very clear that the vigil had another objective.

Underlying the motivation of vigil organizers is the belief that Allenna Williams Ward 'stole the virginity' of the five black teenagers, ages 14-15.

However, as of today not a shred of evidence exists that remotely suggests that Ward is guilty of the crimes of which she is accused. The teenagers maintain that the encounters took place in various places where someone, somewhere would have easily noticed--the Bell Street Middle School, a Clinton motel, behind a restaurant in town, and at a local public park. Yet so far the Circuit Solicitor's office has not confirmed that there is any evidence showing that Ward was ever a guest at that hotel or that anyone can place her in any of the areas where these acts supposedly occurred.

The scant evidence that exists is dubious at best. A note supposedly surfaced that proved the entire story. Yet the truth is that the teacher had instructed the student not to speak in class as a disciplinary issue. If he had a question he was supposed to write it on paper. Instead, he sent the teacher an obscene note, which Ward immediately threw into the garbage can.

This note somehow mysteriously finds its way to the administrative offices of the Bell Street Middle School and is used by the accusers and others as 'proof' that something sordid was happening between Ward and the teenagers.

In like manner, the defense attorney representing three of the teenagers (and why do they need lawyers?) offered a cell phone/digital camera photo of Ward as 'proof' that the teenagers are telling the truth. But the truth of the matter is that the infamous 'cell phone photo' shows nothing sordid at all. It is a picture that one of the teenagers took of Ward during class--a picture the student took from behind.

Following the attorney's charges, wild rumors ensued to the effect that one of the teenagers had a lewd picture of Ward's buttocks. The truth is that Ward is fully clothed in that particular photo, teaching her class. In addition, a student is forbidden to have cell phones in school as a matter of official policy. The mere fact that the student took a cell phone photo of Ward in class shows a blatant disregard for school regulations.

The very fact that yet another meeting was held between parents and teachers shows that critical questions remain concerning the facts in this case. So much of it does not make sense and defies all human logic.

In addition, the fact that parents and friends of the five teenagers would feel the need to hold a very public vigil, making very public statements that presume Ward's guilt, is another indication that perhaps the state's case against Ward is weak at best.

As we have seen in Durham, North Carolina with the Mike Nifong-Duke lacrosse rape hoax, when an accuser's 'facts' are highly questionable, the foot soldiers take to the streets to try the case in the court of public opinion LONG before there is any trial to establish the truth.

If the facts in a case are clear and unmistakable, there is no need for such grandstanding.

Granted, Ward has not yet faced a jury of her peers. The trial itself is a long way off, if there is to be a trial. A jury may well decide, after looking at the evidence and considering the various factors in the case, that Ward is guilty. If this is, indeed, the outcome of the trial and the evidence proves it, then so be it.

Yet as of today there is still nothing but accusations--and no confirmation of those accusations.

New Update on Allenna Williams Ward Case

Clinton, SC (TLS). The parents of the five teenagers who accused Bell Street Middle School teacher Allenna Williams Ward of engaging in sexual conduct with them all over town are planning a candlelight vigil in Clinton on Monday evening, March 26.

Vigil organizer Rosa Booker stated, 'These kids are going to school and getting their virginity taken away from them. These children need to know this is something that you don't keep quiet.'

Of course, Booker is right when it comes to sexual assault and inappropriate behavior on the part of teachers toward underage students. If such activity is taking place, it is imperative that the students in question report it.

The nation has seen a barrage of such activity in recent years as female teachers seem to have cast aside all ethical, moral, and professional restraints in going after teenage students. This activity is deplorable and should be condemned. The guilty should do jail time.

However, in the Allenna Williams Ward case, so far all we have are accusations and charges based upon those accusations. No proof has yet been produced that exposes any guilt on the part of Ward. She has not even had a trial. Yet a small but vocal group in Clinton is all but proclaiming her guilt and using the accusations as a springboard from which to conduct grandstanding activity in town, as if to convict Ward in the court of public opinion and create a sense on the part of the public that the accusations of the teenagers should not be questioned.

The practice is despicable and is on the same par as the deplorable actions on the part of the Durham community last Spring when three Duke lacrosse players were falsely accused of rape. Certain community leaders, including the administration and 88 faculty members of Duke, made accusatory statements to the press and conducted rallies in town denouncing the three innocent students.

The result was a charade, a three-ring-circus that perpetuated one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of American jurisprudence.

Is the same thing beginning to happen in Clinton?

One would hope that we as a society have learned something in the aftermath of the Duke rape hoax. But if the actions of certain citizens in Clinton are any indication, apparently we have not learned our lesson well enough.

Displays such as the candlelight vigil to be held on Monday should be reserved for after the trial in the event that Ward is found guilty.

Until such time, such displays only add to suspicions of a set-up.

The Day's Collection, Sunday, March 18, 2007

Here is a collection of today's top news stories from around the nation.

1. SC Educators Charged in Selling Alcohol to Minors
http://www.aikenstandard.com/news/23416021773331.php

2. Info on Bell Street Middle School, Clinton, SC--the school where Allenna Williams Ward taught 7th grade Language Arts--including racial profile and academic rankings
http://sc.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/76001

3. Liestoppers posts citizen journalist reports of meetings around N.C. concerning the Duke lacrosse rape hoax
http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2007/03/citizen-journalist-reports-on-iwf-forum.html

4. Pamela Geller exposes the Jihad-promoting CAIR for attempting to gain access to airline passenger list
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2007/03/cair_wants_your.html

5. A viewpoint from the perspective of a woman whose info was published by the Roanoke Times in their anti-gun tyrade:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=6549

6. And finally, our favorite intellectual, Walter Williams, writes on 'Smoking and Economics'
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams031407.php3

Racial Overtones Plague Allenna Ward Case

Charlotte, NC (TLS). Like a nightmare that keeps recurring over and over, the Allenna Williams Ward case in Clinton, South Carolina is becoming even more eerily reminiscent of the infamous Duke lacrosse rape scandal--in more ways than one.

The Liberty Sphere has already reported that Ward may be the victim of a rogue Prosecutor, in the tradition of Mike Nifong, who needs to score a victory in a teacher sex scandal. Further investigations into this case lead us to believe that racial overtones may well figure into this scenario, just as they did with the three Caucasian Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape by a Black female prostitute.

Our investigation has uncovered deep problems within the Bell Street Middle School in Clinton with regard to racial issues. Although this fact has been carefully hidden from the public, the teenagers involved in this case are Black. From what we have been able to piece together, these Black teenage males were involved in inappropriate taunts aimed at the young Mrs. Ward, a 23-year old Caucasian in only her 2nd year of teaching.

One incident involving the teenagers sent Ward to the administrative office of the school to complain.

Rumor has it that the incident involved a cell phone picture that one of the Black teenagers took of Ward while she had her back turned. It is against school policy for students to have cell phones turned on in class. Most schools have policies that mandate teacher confiscation of cell phones, iPods, and the like. The parents are then called to come to the school to retrieve the items.

Therefore, if such a cell phone picture exits, then it was taken against school policy and against Mrs. Ward's knowledge.

Another rumor has been swirling concerning the nature of the infamous 'note' that made its way into the hands of school administrators. Apparently one of the teenage boys had been called down by Mrs. Ward for talking in class. She instructed him to write questions on paper if he wanted to ask something. The Black teenager proceeded to write an obscene message to Ward, which she tossed into the garbage.

Somehow the discarded obscene message mysteriously found its way to the administrators of the Bell Street Middle School.

These two rumors have not been confirmed by The Liberty Sphere, but they do offer at least some small glimpse into the scenario that was being played out at the Bell Street Middle School.

As in the Duke case in Durham, North Carolina, not only do we have here a situation where a Caucasian is being accused by Black teenage boys, but the community of which Bell Street Middle School is a part is a central factor in this entire troubling mess. Ward was almost immediately found guilty in the court of public opinion even before any of the facts of this case were known. A prosecutor pandered to the Black community, as we found in Durham.

At this stage, with each passing day this case is appearing to be nothing but a set-up job perpetrated by Black teenage boys gone bad in order to cover up their despicable behavior in school toward their young teacher.

State Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace had better have some bombshell irrefutable evidence against Mrs. Ward, or else he is going to have a uprising on his hands consisting of peasants with pitchforks demanding that he come clean about a white teacher being set up by some bad Black teenagers.

More Doubts Surface on Allena Williams Ward Case

Washington, DC (TLS). More doubts have surfaced concerning the Allena Williams Ward teacher sex scandal in South Carolina. As previously reported on The Liberty Sphere, so much about this case borders on the bizarre that the allegations against the former middle school teacher beg the question of authenticity.

The latest series of questions focus squarely on the parents of the teenagers involved.

These are boys allegedly between the ages of 14 and 15. Teenagers of that age do not even have driver's licenses. And if they are allowed to drive under some sort of permit, it is only during daylight hours under adult supervision. In other words, an adult has to be in the vehicle.

Where were these parents? Why was there no adequate supervision of the boys? How did they get from 'point A' to 'point B?' Did Ward drive them to the various sites of the alleged rendezvous?

What about the allegation of a major motel in Clinton being the site of one of these meetings? A well-known teacher in a small town, who grew up in that town, going to the only major motel in the area with a young teenage boy or boys would surely be noticed and thus raise suspicions.

Is there a record of Allena Williams Ward checking into that motel? These days one must have a major credit card to be given a room in a major motel chain. If she had, in fact, checked into that motel, there is a record.

Does the Circuit Solicitor have that record, or is he simply taking the word of the boys?

So far absolutely no confirmation has been made by the Solicitor's office that Ward was ever a guest at that motel.

Further, does Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace possess the record of the supposed text message in which Ward allegedly tells one student to 'keep his mouth shut?' If so, once again there has been absolutely no confirmation that such a text message exists, except on the word of one of the teenagers and his attorney. In fact, Peace stated as of Wednesday of this week that he did NOT have a record of any such text message. Thus, it is clear that Peace is basing this allegation entirely on the word of the teenage boy in question and his attorney.

That attorney, by the way, is one Karl Allen, who is representing three of the boys. Why do these teenagers need an attorney when supposedly the Solicitor is prosecuting their case before the court?

There is yet one more salient point about this case that raises doubt. The statement made by one of the boys that Ward told him to 'keep his mouth shut' is oddly reminiscent of what the students at Ware Shoals High School claim their principal, Jane Blackwell, told them when the scandal broke concerning the cheerleaders and their coach, Jill Moore.

The students claim that they interpreted Blackwell's directive as a threat, that they should keep their mouths shut and refuse to speak to authorities about the case. Blackwell, however, stated that she merely wanted the students to refrain from engaging in gossip and rumor in the midst of an investigation by law enforcement and that she never intended for her students not to speak to authorities about what they knew.

Yet, this one single statement by Blackwell, on the word of high school teenagers, was enough to get the principal arrested on the charge of obstruction.

Ware Shoals is a mere 30 miles or so from Clinton. The case in Ware Shoals brought international media coverage. The fact that Blackwell was arrested on obstruction for merely telling students not to talk about the case was headline news for weeks, particularly in the local area.

Did one of the boys in Clinton borrow a page from the Ware Shoals playbook in putting together this series of allegations that so far has totally ruined a teacher's life and career?

The case has not even gone to trial, and yet here we are a mere two weeks after the arrest of Ward, and we have already shed light upon a series of doubts that may well lead up to one big question mark that could break this case apart. The legal term is 'reasonable doubt,' and it is a biggie.

If a jury looks at these questions carefully, without any supporting documentation that would prove any of the allegations, that jury may well decide that there is enough reasonable doubt to render a verdict of 'not guilty.'

In addition, a smart prosecutor may well look at these questions and decide that this is a case that is not worth pursuing any further.

Time will tell.

Has Allena Williams Ward Been 'Nifonged'?

Washington, DC (TLS). Durham, North Carolina District Attorney Mike Nifong became infamous for prosecuting three innocent students on the Duke lacrosse team on the charge of rape. His motivation? To win an election in a overwhelmingly liberal Democrat district with a very large African-American population.

The case quickly became a national news item as citizens from around the country expressed their outrage that a rogue prosecutor could conduct such a blatant sham against three innocent persons. In time Nifong became a joke, a laughing stock of those who point out everything wrong with the politicized system of choosing state's attorneys.

He also became a defendant, the recipient of charges of prosecutorial misconduct, lying to the court, and ethics violations by the North Carolina BAR. He stepped down from the lacrosse case in order to defend himself. This was after revelations were made public that Nifong never personally interviewed the accuser until 10 months after the charges were brought against the students. That accuser also changed her story numerous times and demonstrated that her testimony would not be credible due to her unsavory manner of living, as well as statements she made to friends about the night in question when she was supposedly 'raped.'

DNA evidence also proved that not a single member of the Duke lacrosse team had engaged in sex with the accuser. Multiple sources of DNA were found inside her, however, none of which matched any of the students. This evidence, by the way, was supressed by Nifong in a sleazy under-the-table deal with the laboratory that did the DNA tests.

Thus, the term 'Nifonged' was coined to denote being prosecuted on false charges by a rogue state attorney.

The question, therefore, that must be asked is, has Allena Williams Ward been 'nifonged'?

Ward is the S.C. teacher accused of engaging in criminal sexual activity with five teenage boys. The actions of the state's attorney in this case (which, by the way, is called the 'circuit solicitor' in S.C.--whatever the heck that means) suggests suspicious behavior reminiscent of Mike Nifong.

According to one writer who commented on the case on The Liberty Sphere, the Solicitor was under pressure to score a conviction of a teacher accused in a sex crime, since two other similar cases fell by the wayside. The writer also suggests that if the Solicitor had a solid case, he would normally plead it out. This he has not done. Rather, he requested that no bail be given to the accused. When that did not work, her bail was set so high that it rivals that of murderers.

Why?

Perhaps the prosecutor knows he has no case and is thus going for broke...all or nothing. Throwing caution to the wind, he hopes a verdict will go his way, or else she will be totally exonerated, thus taking the monkey off his back for deciding to prosecute such a shaky case to begin with.

Of course, in that scenario the prosecutor will be under even more pressure than ever to 'win one against teachers gone bad.'

Teachers in Laurens County had better go ahead and get legal representation now, before the bull-in-a-china-shop comes charging after whoever is an easy target.

Naturally, all of this is conjecture at this point. What I have just described is a possible scenario rather than an accusation. But there is enough about this case that is simply too bizarre for an observer of the legal system not to raise questions. Needless to say, my suspicions are being raised to a fever pitch.

BREAKING NEWS ON SC TEACHER SEX SCANDAL

Washington, DC (TLS). The attorney representing one of the teenage boys who accused Clinton, South Carolina teacher Allena Williams Ward with sexual misconduct stated late today that the teacher had sent text messages to one of the boys urging him to 'keep his mouth shut.'

This revelation was made today obviously in response to growing suspicion about the charges.

In the news release, however, the attorney did not specify what, exactly, the student was to keep his mouth shut about. This raises suspicions even further.

As The Liberty Sphere has reported since this riveting news story broke, there is much about this case that makes no sense. The allegations made by the boys must be held up to suspicion simply because of the reputation of the one accused. This does not mean that their allegations are to be dismissed. It means only that every avenue must be undertaken to arrive at the truth. And that means questioning the nature of the allegations to insure authenticity.

If the charges against Ward are to be believed, then corroborating evidence must be produced since the allegations specify that the sexual acts in question took place all over town, in public areas, including the very school where Ward taught.

Text messages between the teenagers and Ward are certainly important evidence. But what, exactly, did these messages say? When Ward told to boy to 'keep his mouth shut,' was she speaking of sexual acts between them, or was she reacting to a threat made by the boy to 'ruin her reputation?'

Teenage boys 14-15 years old these days can be quite intimidating, scheming, and given to retaliation. Did one of the boys threaten Ward by stating he and his cohorts would spread lies about her to ruin her career and her life?

Since the attorney in question publicized this small piece of information without stating exactly what the text message was referring to, then this lawyer succeeded in only adding more fuel to the fire of doubt. Thus, the subject nature of the text message in question is a key ingredient.

A text message that merely states that the boy should 'keep his mouth shut' could refer to any number of things, including sexual activity AND a threat to ruin Ward's reputation. If the attorney representing the boys plans to try his case in the court of public opinion, he certainly cannot do it without providing the exact nature of that text message, verbatim, within its full context.

So far, I see only more evidence of a hoax.

Is the Teacher Sex Scandal in S.C. a Hoax?

Washington, DC (TLS). The time has come to ask the question, is the teacher sex scandal in S.C. involving Allena Williams Ward a hoax? Has she been set up? Has someone 'born false witness'--the Biblical term for false accusations against the innocent--against her?

In no way does The Liberty Sphere seek to grant any excuses to anyone who has committed unlawful acts of assault--including sexual assault--against innocent persons, particularly children and under-age teenagers. Such perpetrators must face the consequences for such heinous deeds.

As much as we deplore such acts, however, we also deplore false accusations against the innocent and the loathsome horror of the possibility that an innocent person could go to jail and have their lives totally ruined on the basis of false testimony, trumped up charges, or a frame-up.

And these things DO happen in the United States of America these days, my friends--much more so than we realize.

Students in the nation's public school system are a far cry from the students of my day. Teachers in countless schools across the country fear for their very lives as students have turned violent and deadly. Discipline in the classroom is a joke. Parents obviously have not raised the present generation to be respectful toward adults and authority.

If I had said to my teacher what countless students say to their teachers today, I would have been permanently expelled.

Yet schools more often than not feel that parents have tied their hands in meting out discipline.

It is not beyond the scope of possibility that the charges against Ward were trumped up by young teenage boys in retaliation for disciplinary action. I make no accusation here at all. I do not even know the identities of the accusers. All I am saying is that it is not beyond the scope of possibility that today's students would so such a thing.

After all, this is an era where eight-year-olds have been caught with guns at school, 12-year-olds have had sex in the classroom out of view of the teacher (yes, they get help from their friends in distracting teachers while they engage in sexual activity), and parents have not come to the defense of education professionals but have instead defended their little angels, refusing to believe that 'any child of mine could do such a thing.'

So many factors in this case make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Allena Williams Ward is a child of Clinton, South Carolina--one of its very own, born and bred. Not only was she born and raised there, but she was educated there and taught school there. Instead of leaving home to to to college, she stayed home, in Clinton, and attended Presbyterian College, where she received her degree in Middle School Education.

Ward's family is well-known in the community. They are ministers in their church. They are described as upright, wholesome, honest, and outstanding citizens.

Clinton, South Carolina only has 10,000 residents. A home-grown girl WILL have a reputation in a small town, and Ward's reputation was above reproach.

If she were a dangerous threat to the town's youth as a hardened, wild-eyed child molester, it is hard to believe that somebody in Clinton would not have known.

Her friends said her life-long dream was to become a school-teacher. She would boil with righteous indignation at news reports of teachers who brought reproach upon the profession by involving themselves in sleazy scandals.

The allegations state that she basically had sex with these teenage boys all over town--in Clinton--population 10,000. She supposedly did it in the very school in which she taught. She did it in a motel in town. She did it in a public park in town. She did it behind a restaurant in town...or so the accusers allege.

And yet, not a single soul noticed?

In order to accept these allegations as fact, one would have to believe that not only did an upright, respectable Christian girl suddenly turn hot, but she would have to possess incredible skills of becoming invisible in a small town.

I have been wrong in my hunches in the past. But I have been right as well. I may well be proved wrong in this case. But so far, I smell a hoax.

Allena Williams Ward Once Decried Teacher Scandals

Washington, DC (TLS). As a high school and college student, Allena Williams Ward once decried teacher scandals that often made their way into the news. According to friends and acquaintances of the middle school teacher who finds herself embroiled in a sex scandal involving young teenage boys, Ward would express shock and outrage that teachers would behave in such as fashion as to bring reproach upon the teaching profession.

Friends who knew Ward back in those days describe a clean-cut, wholesome Christian girl who always wanted to become a school teacher. The entire family, in fact, displayed the wholesomeness that people in the Bible belt appreciate in Christian folk. Ward's parents are heavily involved in Christian ministry through their local church. The consensus of the community seems to be that Ward and her family have always been considered some of the finest people one could ever meet--'salt-of-the-earth' types who have reputations above reproach.

Yet if Ward is convicted of the crimes of which she is accused by local law enforcement, her lifelong dream will be coming to an abrupt end. Not only will she face prison, but her days of teaching school will be over--permanently.

According to county records, Ward graduated from Clinton High School in 2001. She immediately enrolled in the prestigious Presbyterian College in Clinton, from which she graduated in 2005 with a degree in Middle School Education. At the time of her arrest, Ward was the 7th grade teacher of Language Arts at Bell Street Middle School in Clinton.

In short, this woman grew up in Clinton, was educated in Clinton, and worked in Clinton. Her entire life was spent there. And believe me, small towns in the South know no secrets. If Ward had been viewed as a person lacking in the character and judgment to be entrusted with school children, someone--many someones, in fact--would have known about it in this small town.

Further, all prospective teachers in South Carolina are required to undergo a complete background check conducted by the state law enforcement division, called 'SLED.'

Without a blemish on her record or reputation, Ward was hired to teach students in her hometown...the town she never left, not even to get a college education. Apparently everyone knew her and trusted her with the education of their children.

These facts all beg the following questions:

Did Ward carry a dark secret for a number of years that was only unleashed recently--a secret that previously she had kept hidden within the confines of her own mind until they burst forth in a fury of 'acting out'?

Was Ward always engaged in this behavior throughout high school and college, but somehow managed to keep it all quiet? If so, how many knew this was going on?

Are the allegations made against her patently false? Was she framed? Is this a scheme cooked up by school kids seeking revenge on a teacher for some unnamed offense, such as discipline?

Did the cops get it all wrong? Do they have the wrong person? Were the accusations made against her designed to cover up someone else's wrongdoing?

All of these questions, and more, MUST be considered in order to arrive at the truth. Only the complete truth will satisfy the burning question of how such a thing could happen in such a nice place as Clinton. And the only redemption that will come to the guilty is in the disclosure of the complete truth.

For more details, click here:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pol/288172744.html

Allena Williams Ward Court Date Set

Washington, DC (TLS). Allena Williams Ward, the 23-year-old married school teacher accused of sexual misconduct with under-age teenage boys, will return to court on April 2. Until that time, Mrs. Ward is confined to her home, monitored by an electronic device that allows law enforcement officers to track her whereabouts.

Ward's movements are restricted. She is allowed only to attend church, see her attorney, get medical attention, and travel to court.

As reported previously on The Liberty Sphere, Ward's family has been supportive of the beleaguered teacher. Upon her release from jail, she walked arm-in-arm with her husband, surrounded by her father and other family members. They had been advised by legal counsel not to speak to the media. Once inside the vehicle, she could be seen crying as she was closely embraced by her husband.

Ward's father put up the money for her to make bail.

On condition of anonymity, sources close to Ward and her family report being totally baffled by the arrest. Without fail, these sources spoke of Mrs. Ward in glowing terms, describing her as a devout Christian who had never been involved with any illegal activity or behavior that could be considered questionable. Each source stated that up until now Ward's reputation had been beyond reproach.

These descriptions of Ward's character make the arrest and the charges that led to them all the more baffling.

As we have stated previously, there is much more here than what meets the eye. And this is why it is essential that residents of Clinton avoid any rush to judgment so that the defendant can have her day in court.

There are at least two sides to every story. All we have heard thus far is the law enforcement side. We will hear Ward's side when the trial gets underway.

Female Teacher-Male Student Sex Scandals

Washington, DC (TLS). The state of South Carolina has been shell-shocked in recent weeks by two high-profile sex scandals involving female teachers/school officials and under-age male students. The first of these incidents involved Ware Shoals High School in the small town of Ware Shoals, S.C., where a cheerleader coach by the name of Jill Moore was charged with giving alcohol to minors, contributing to the delinquency of minors, and taking 16-year-old female students with her for sexual trysts at local motels with two National Guardsmen. The second incident occurred last week when a middle school teacher in Clinton, S.C. by the name of Allena Williams Ward was charged with sexual activity with 14 and 15-year-old-boys.

Both of these incidents made international news.

In addition, both of these incidents occurred in small, religiously-oriented rural towns in the South--something that is normally not expected in the Bible belt. The town of Clinton is home to the prestigious Presbyterian College, which is a small, liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Ware Shoals is even smaller, having at one time been a thriving textile mill village in the days when cotton was king in the South. Religion was the centerpiece of these small towns and villages, and to this day they continue to be strongholds of Christian evangelicalism and conservative Republican politics.

So what's going on here? Why the seemingly sudden rash of sexual scandals involving female teachers and their students?

The phenomenon is not unique to the South but is nation-wide. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, news reports have increasingly focused upon high-profile cases of liaisons between female teachers and young male students. Several of these resulted in prison sentences for the teachers involved. At least two resulted in pregnancies. One of these cases involved not only a pregnancy but an eventual marriage when the teacher was released from prison and when the student became an adult.

Further, a shocking U.S. Department of Education study issued in June of 2004 stated that at least 20% of male students had reported either verbal or physical sexual misconduct by female teachers.

Several theories have been postulated as to the reasons for these occurrences. My own gut feeling is that the lax mores of modern society leave it vulnerable to these kinds of inappropriate, and sometimes criminal, behaviors. The waning influence of religion and moral values is certainly a core factor.

However, the problem is much more complicated than that. As a special report issued in 2005 by U.S.A. Today indicates, these troubling cases can be laid at the feet of mental and emotional instability, pathological insecurity. a terribly deficient self-image, personality disorders, as well as a family history of sexual, emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. Most of the female perpetrators were being treated for depression and anxiety at the time of their arrest.

It should be pointed out that the vast majority of women who receive treatment for depression and anxiety are NOT involved in sexual activity with minors. However, these two disorders when added to a personality/developmental disorder, plus a history of abuse, can add up to a dangerous mixture that leads unstable persons to pursue intimate encounters with under-age persons--persons who reflect the emotional age of the adult perpetrator.

Thus, a 35-year-old teacher who is involved with a 15 year old boy may actually be only 15 years-old in emotional terms. She never matured emotionally to the point that she can have satisfying sexual relations with other adults.

The Liberty Sphere wishes in no way to provide an excuse for any adult who initiates sexual liaisons with under-age persons. The explanations postulated above are merely attempts to explain and understand the bizarre.

For the complete text of the U.S.A. Today special report on this subject in 2005, click here:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-29-women-sex-crimes_x.htm

Teacher in S.C. Sex Scandal Released on Bond

Washington, DC (TLS). Allena Williams Ward, the 23-year-old married teacher charged in a sex scandal involving 14-15 year-old boys has been released from jail on bond.

Ward was released late this afternoon and was accompanied by her husband and other family members, who are reportedly giving the accused teacher their full support. An electronic tracking device issued by the Laurens County Sheriff's Department will monitor Ward's movements. She is allowed to travel only to church, to her attorney's office, to the court, and to her doctor.

Law enforcement officials stated that if Ward violates the terms of this 'house arrest,' officers will be immediately notified via email or cell phone.

Parents of students in Laurens County School District 56 are none too pleased that Ward was released from jail today, claiming that she is a threat to their children. The local District Attorney, which in South Carolina is referred to as the 'Circuit Solicitor,' had sought to prevent Ward's release and/or to make her bail much higher. Parents are outraged that Ward's bail was set so low. Her release today occurred only two days after her arrest.

The Circuit Solicitor in the case has referred to Ward as a threat to the public given the predatory nature of her alleged sex crimes. If this allegation is proved in court, there is much more here than what meets the eye. A case can be made that predatory sex acts committed against under-age persons is a hideous disease that is deserving of psychiatric evaluation and treatment, in addition to whatever punishment the court deems necessary.

Yet, as always, it cannot be overly stressed that so far the charges against Ward are allegations. Her first court date is set for roughly one month from today. Only a court of law can determine guilt or innocence. So far, nothing has been proved and no verdict has been issued.

The Liberty Sphere is committed to reminding communities and victims in cases such as this to remember that in America the accused must not be found guilty in the court of public opinion before any evidence has been submitted to a court of law. There will be plenty enough time for all the evidence to be presented in court and for a jury to deliberate as to its authenticity.

The citizens of Clinton, South Carolina must allow the attorneys, the court, and the jury to carefully consider the facts in the case before any judgment is to be rendered. At present, Mrs. Ward is accused of ALLEGED crimes, and she must be presumed innocent until a jury finds her guilty.