Norman Earl Hodge, 42, social studies teacher & golf coach at LaFayette High School, Walker County Schools, LaFayette, Georgia, "two counts of sexual assault by an authority figure" Previously taught at: Ridgeland High School, Walker County Schools, LaFayette, Georgia Times Free Press: North Georgia teacher charged with sexual assault (Feb 3 2013) A Walker County, Ga., teacher once charged with possessing alcohol on school grounds has been charged with sexual assault. Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson tells Channel 3, 42-year-old Norman Earl Hodge was arrested Friday on two counts of sexual assault by an authority figure. Tags:
WRCB: Walker Co. teacher resigns after sexual assault arrest (Feb 4 2013) Walker County Schools Superintendent Damon Raines released a statement, saying once the student notified the school of the allegations, "an immediate investigation ensued following the current school system protocols," and that "Mr. Norm Hodge resigned his position with the Walker County Schools and local authorities are now handling the situation." "We had enough probable cause to make an arrest," Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson says.Walker County Sheriff's deputies arrested him at the school Friday night, but would not give us any details of the evidence. Sheriff Wilson says a 17-year-old female student claims Hodge sexually assaulted her twice in the last month to month and a half. "The allegations are that the incidents happened on two separate occasions. They did not happen on school property and it did not happen during a school function," Sheriff Wilson says. Despite being off school property and her being over the age of consent, which is 16 in Georgia, the fact that he's an authority figure, means harsher penalties if convicted: one to 25 years in prison, and/or a fine up to $100,000.
Prior alcohol-related case, charges were dropped as "an improper interpretation of the law": Walker Messenger: LaFayette High School teacher arrested for sex with student (Feb 4 2013) In October 2008 Hodge, along with two other coaches and a fourth person, was charged with having alcohol on school grounds at a football game at Southeast Whitfield High School. Whitfield sheriff’s deputies took the three coaches into custody after the men agreed to a breath test that determined they were at the game, in the press box, under the influence of alcohol. The charge listed on the arrest report was “possession of alcohol.” The Whitfield County district attorney’s office determined that to be “an improper interpretation of the law.” “If that were the case, we may be arresting nearly half of the people at some sporting events,” Whitfield County district attorney Kermit McManus said at the time. The DA’s office dismissed the charge in January 2009 due to lack of evidence.
Coosa Valley News: LaFayette Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault (Feb 4 2013) A teacher at LaFayette High School, Norm Hodge, has been arrested and charged with having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Walker County officials said that Hodge had two sexual encounters with a 17 year-old student last December. He is charged with two felony coutns of sexual assault by an authority figure.
Times Free Press: LaFayette High School teacher charged in sex with student, 17 (Feb 5 2013) [Norman Earl] Hodge, 42, a former member of the LaFayette City Council, is charged with having sex off campus with a 17-year-old girl who's a student at the school. The age of consent is 16 in Georgia, and the relationship was consensual, Sheriff Steve Wilson said. But state statute makes it a crime for teachers to have sex with students under age 18. The girl's father reportedly told school officials, who contacted the sheriff's office.
