![]() |
Brought to you by Valley Heating and Cooling
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Testimony will continue Thursday morning in the second degree rape trial of a former Gadsden City High School teacher. Nicholas Keith Smith was a coach and teacher at the school when he was charged in May 2009, for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student who was 15 at the time. Even though testimony indicated such a relationship was apparently consensual, the girl's age made it a felony. Among the witnesses were former students, now college age, who were part of a circle of friends involving both the female victim and the suspect. They testified it wasn't unusual for the students to "hang out" at the coach's home, and one even testified to visiting with the coach at sports bars. That witness, a male, testified the teacher admitted he "got with" the student, and later said "he told me he may be in trouble. He told me he messed up." The witness also testified Smith had a digital photo frame full of photos that showed the two together. He said it had two data cards, so the coach could switch it out and hide his relationship if need be. Another witness, a female, testified about the suspect buying jewelry for the student. At the time of the arrest, in 2009, Fox6 reported a second teacher was arrested for covering up the jewelry story by pretending it was her, not Smith, who gave the expensive earrings to the student. Smith appeared calm during the trial but his attorney, Dani Bone, was animated, often objecting to testimony he felt was hearsay. State prosecutors are handling the case because Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp recused himself and his office, since some of his own children attend school in the same school system. Prosecutors are expected to continue calling witnesses Thursday morning.
Dental Health is Important for Children's 'Baby Teeth'
Lamb Chops and Red Wine: A Perfect Easter Pairing
Alabama Department of Public Health issues 2016 Fish Consumption
Aquarium animals and plants should never be released in the wild
Keywords: rape,Gadsden,teacher,city,trial,
Visit Local News
There currently are no approved comments for this blog article. To join the discussion click here.