Tonya Craft was a kindergarten teacher at Chickamauga Elementary School in Catoosa County, Georgia. She is teacher is now standing trial for accusations that she molested her students. The teacher molestation trial continues, today entered its 14th day. Read about it below and see a photo and videos.
Tonya Craft Mugshot
Tonya Henke Craft is a 37-year-old former kindergarten teacher who is facing charges of child molestation in a Ringgold, Georgia courtroom. She was arrested in June 2008 and is charged with 22 counts including 10 counts of child molestation, six counts of aggravated sexual battery and six counts of aggravated child molestation. Craft maintains she is innocent of all the charges against her. The sensational trial proceedings are currently in their 14th day.
The Craft teacher molestation trial was featured on NBC’s ‘Today’ show this morning. A taped interview with Tonya Craft was presented in which she denied any guilt in the accusations against her. In the interview she warned that if this could happen to her, it could happen to any one at any time. She maintained that having these kinds of accusations leveled against you is all it takes to destroy your life. ‘You’re stripped of your rights and your home,’ she said.
‘Today’ show host Matt Lauer discussed the case with legal analyst Dan Abrams regarding the strategies of the prosecution and the defense. Abrams predicted that Craft may have to take the stand in her own defense unless things go very badly for the prosecution. He also discussed the difficulties intrinsic in a case like this. Both sides have to be careful not to imply that the child making the accusations has done anything wrong. On the other hand, no one wants someone’s life to be ruin through misguided accusations.
There has been a steady stream of riveting testimony from character witnesses, the parents of her accusers, neighbors, friends and even her ex-husband Joel Henke.
Many are calling the trial a ‘witch hunt’. This notion comes from the fact that a former friend of Crafts was the original accuser. Other friends have testified that the original accuser was intensely jealous of Craft and had been prone to bitter outbursts about her prior to making the accusations.
As the teacher molestation trial continues, the case has been dissected daily by local media and over water-coolers in offices throughout the area. The community has sharply divided between those who feel Craft has been falsely accused and those who are convinced of her guilt. Her guilt or innocence will ultimately be in the hands of the jury hearing the case.
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Tonya Craft: Teacher Molestation Trial Continues – Video
April 29th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
[...] WATCH: Video [...]
April 29th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Have all the accusors and the accused been examined under hypnosis and/or lie detection ?
Although this is voluntary and non conclusive , the consequences of these accusations warrant a more objective analysis of the accusations.
Has anyone looked at any recorded security video of the school at any point to see if anything odd was ever caught on tape?
Has any of the accusers ever accused anyone else ?
May 4th, 2010 at 6:01 am
THIS IS A WITCH HUNT AND SHOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THERE IS A CROOKED JUDGE AND PROSECUTION.
TONYA HAS PASSED 2 LIE DETECTOR TESTS. FOLLOW DAILY TRIAL AT WRBC CHANNEL 3. THIS IS VERY SCARY AS YOU WATCH INNOCENT PEOPLE BE PUT ON TRIAL LIKE THIS. I HOPE THE JURY IS PAYING ATTENTION.
May 7th, 2010 at 6:08 am
I hope jurors remember that there must be proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The abuse was supposed to have happened in the teacher’s home. Very difficult..impossible to prove that it happened and of course, children lie.
May 10th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I have been in this same circumstance. My stepsons who were 6 & 7 at the time accused my husband and I of physically and sexually abusing them. To say children cannot lie is not true. They were coached by the biological mother and her family. We never went to trial, just investigated until one of her family members came forward and told the truth. The sad part is that she might very well be innocent. We never went to trial and there is lasting psychological effects on my stepsons. God only knows what this has done to those girls if this is not true.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
When children are frightened by the threat of exposure, they become creative in much the same way that adults do. This can take the form of elaborate lies and tales that introduce varied possibilities and divert attention away from themselves and/or persons they are trying to protect. If in fact the children present signs of physical scarring…someone has injured the children, who… is in fact the question, but it will not likely be the first name they call out. At times, the first name is someone they think no one would believe would’ve hurt them, and in many case is someone they trust to protect them and whom they believe will find out the truth for them and provide rescue. In this way they force this person into their situation. May God judge, and His omniscience prevail and thereby lead to the truth for the sake of the children.
May 13th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I dearly wish to speak with Tonya and/or her attorney. A shattered family needs your guidance and support. Please get in touch. And God Bless you, Tonya. I pray your children heal from this tragic travesty and that your time now with them will help the many months lost pale by comparaison.
May 29th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I have to say, this is a great post and a great blog alltogether.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
first and foremost god bless you tonya and your entire family!!
my name is nancy carol campbell of rossville, ga. i and my entire family the victims of the north georgia, ft. oglethorpe, calhoun, ga. and chattanooga tennessee’s police departments now for years as well. and the degree will make the hair on your arms stand up.
this date is ironic that i am exposing all these crimes, as it marks what would have been my only brothers 50th birthday, and his passing of ten years as well. point being, he has been by my side and seen me thru this whole horrific ordeal of injustice to the very end!!!
i’m no longer nor will i allow my family to be victims anymore of such hanus abuse and am prosecuting all criminal activity that has ever occurred in my life and my families lives.