Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Thursday, June 28, 2007
By SHAWN HOPKINS - Bulletin Staff Writer
A former Henry County teacher who had been charged with attempting to take indecent liberties with a minor, allegedly involving a Henry County student, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge.
Natalie Preston, 23, of 532 John Baker Road, Fieldale, entered a guilty plea in Henry County Circuit Court to one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Judge David Williams sentenced Preston to a 12-month suspended sentence and a $250 fine.
She was indicted in January on one felony count of attempting to take indecent liberties with a minor while maintaining a custodial or supervisory position over such a minor in connection with a Sept. 11 incident, according to court records.
J. Randolph “Randy Smith,” assistant Henry County commonwealth’s attorney, said the suspended sentence requires two years of good behavior. Otherwise, Preston might have to serve jail time, he said.
Another requirement is that Preston have no contact with the minor until the minor turns 18, which Smith said he believes should be some time in late 2008.
All parties involved agreed to the plea deal because none wanted the embarrassment or hardship of a public trial, especially the minor and the minor’s family, Smith said.
Preston, a former teacher at Bassett High School, had worked there for less than a month in the 2006-07 school year before information about an alleged inappropriate relationship surfaced in September, when the student was 16 and attending Magna Vista High School.
Preston was placed on unpaid leave and resigned in October.
Before that, Smith said, Preston was “a semi-volunteer” with the Magna Vista Band Boosters, working as an assistant band director. At that time, she was not considered a school system employee and was paid by the boosters, not the school, he said.
Smith said Preston attempted to send a letter to the student through another Bassett student who went to the same church as the Magna Vista student. However, the Bassett student’s grandmother read the letter and called police, he said.
Henry County Schools Superintendent Sharon Dodson has said the student was not assigned to Preston.
Preston appeared in court for a quick hearing, supported by family members and wearing a brown patterned top and tan slacks. She did not speak except to tell Williams she agreed to the plea agreement and understood the implications of agreeing to it.
Preston’s attorney, Greg Lyons, declined comment. |
| |
|
|
|
