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Charges advance
Former teacher faces indecent liberties counts
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Six counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, filed against a former Bassett High School teacher, were advanced by the Henry County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Tuesday following a preliminary hearing.
A grand jury likely will consider the charges against Luke Sebastan Flora, 30, of 7 Ebb Drive, Bassett, when it convenes Jan. 22, according to Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Bushnell.
Flora was charged in August with taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student, according to previous reports.
The criminal complaint alleges that Flora admitted having sex with a 17-year-old female on six occasions — May 12, 20, 24, 25 and June 1 and 3 —in Henry County.
All of the charges are felonies, according to the criminal complaint.
None of the alleged incidents occurred on school property, officials have said.
Flora was suspended from his job when the initial charges were lodged. Bushnell said later Tuesday that Flora had resigned from the Henry County School System.
Judge Susan Deatherage closed the courtroom to the press on Tuesday. Both Bushnell and the defense attorney, James McGarry, objected to the presence of a Martinsville Bulletin reporter during the hearing.
Flora joined the school division in 2005, teaching Spanish at Bassett High School, according to online information.
The 2000 graduate of George Washington High School in Danville also graduated from Virginia Tech in 2004 and earned a master’s degree with a major in curriculum and instruction in education from Virginia Tech in 2005, according to information online.
The charges next will go to a grand jury, which will consider whether to issue an indictment in the case. An indictment does not indicate guilt. It is the grand jury’s determination that there is enough evidence to hold a trial.
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