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Showing posts with label teenage boys in sex scandals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teenage boys in sex scandals. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

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

Monday, April 02, 2007

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.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

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.

Friday, March 09, 2007

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.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

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.

Monday, March 05, 2007

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.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

S.C. School District Updates Info on Sex Scandal

Washington, DC (TLS). Laurens County School District 56 has updated its website with the latest information on the sex scandal involving a Bell Street Middle School teacher and male students between the ages of 14 and 15.

As reported on The Liberty Sphere late Friday, Allena Williams Ward, the 23-year-old married teacher accused of alleged criminal sexual activity with minors, was released from jail Friday afternoon after posting bail. Ward left the detention facility accompanied by her husband and other family members who are avidly expressing support for the accused teacher.

Parents of young teens in the school district, however, are not so happy about Ward's release. These parents have also expressed their ire at school district officials who refused to answer any questions related to the case in a special meeting with parents on Thursday evening.

However, the school district has provided updated information on its website. Documents related to the case and the school district's response are available on pdf files. These files can be accessed by going to the district website at:
http://www.laurens56.k12.sc.us/

As always, The Liberty Sphere will provide updates as they become available.

Friday, March 02, 2007

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.

Another Female Teacher Goes on Sex Spree

Washington, DC (TLS). The Liberty Sphere has learned that yet another female teacher in South Carolina, only 30 miles or so from Ware Shoals, has gone on a sex spree with under-age students. This time the setting is Clinton, South Carolina, a small town 35 miles south of Greenville and 65 miles north of the state capital of Columbia.

The teacher in question, 23-year-old Allenna Williams Ward, taught in a middle school in the Clinton, SC area. The married teacher is charged with 5 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and 6 counts of lewd acts on a minor. Investigations into the conduct of Ward ensued when she allegedly sent sexually suggestive messages to a student--which were inadvertently discovered by school officials.

Law enforcement officials conducted their investigations into the acts that allegedly occurred between December and early February, and discovered that Ward allegedly engaged in sex with at least 5 teenage boys, ages 14 and 15, in the school building, in city parks, as well as a nearly motel.

Ward was arrested on Wednesday of this week and placed on administrative leave by the school district pending a court hearing. She is being held on bond. If she makes bail, she will be monitored electronically by law enforcement officials.

The Liberty Sphere continues to be baffled by the rash of incidents around the country involving FEMALE teachers and teenage boys.