The trial of Bentley Roach — the Elmore Stoutt High School teacher accused of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old student when she went to him after having an argument with a classmate — concluded in Magistrates’ Court Friday.
Mr. Roach allegedly touched the girl’s thigh, then squeezed her buttocks, Crown Counsel Jude Hanley said in her closing argument.
He also allegedly admonished her to behave or he would “hit her on her buttocks with a stick,” Ms. Hanley said when the case first appeared in court.
The allegations are supported by the girl’s testimony and that of her “best friend,” despite some inconsistency in their explanations of how the touching came about, Ms. Hanley told Magistrate Tamia Richards,
In light of the discrepancies, the prosecutor asked the court to “uphold what [the alleged victim] said happened” and to remember “that people recall things differently.”
Patrick Thompson, Mr. Roach’s lawyer, argued that the inconsistency was of greater significance.
“You can’t just sweep it under the carpet and say, ‘Well, she may have said something differently,’” Mr. Thompson said.
Ms. Richards said she will pronounce her verdict on Jan. 18.
See the Nov. 24, 2011 edition for full coverage.