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Former teacher faces battery charge
Former Fredericksburg teacher charged with sexual battery
Date published: 2/23/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ
A former Fredericksburg Christian Schools computer science teacher was charged this week with aggravated sexual battery.
Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the state police said his office received a tip in January about a sexual assault. After an investigation, a Spotsylvania County grand jury returned indictments.
He said special agent Jane Gibbs of the state police conducted the investigation that resulted in Thomas Garvin Best of Fredericksburg, being charged with six counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor.
Tyler said the assaults happened between 2001 and 2007 and Best was indicted with one charge of sexual battery for each year.
Tyler would not say whether the victim was a former student, but did say she was a juvenile in 2001, which resulted in the indecent liberties charge. He said the victim was an adult for the subsequent years.
Best's age and additional information about the incidents were not available.
Best was served with the indictments Feb. 21 and released on a $10,000 bond, Tyler said. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 14.
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 2/23/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Definition of Aggrav. Sexual Battery
(posted by
stonedodger
, Feb. 28, 2008 5:12 pm)
This is a link to the Commonwealth's definition of aggravated sexual battery.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-67.3
A bit more severe than brushing up against someone.
To Al
(posted by
XBeast
, Feb. 27, 2008 9:21 pm)
"A statement reserving judgement in this case but vehemently denouncing any such behavior and promising to take any allegations seriously would go a long way."
I believe we got that in the mail today.
In the face of something this serious...
(posted by
Al
, Feb. 27, 2008 9:15 pm)
The response seems really underwhelming. A statement reserving judgement in this case but vehemently denouncing any such behavior and promising to take any allegations seriously would go a long way.
Replies......
(posted by
XBeast
, Feb. 27, 2008 9:15 pm)
Mr Yost's definition was not intended to describe what has heppened here, but what he described COULD be considered S.B. Most states define it as unwanted penetration. It can also be oral sex.
The statement on the website was up long enough for the parents to read it and to receive the actual letter. Done and done. The school is going to be open to anyone on Thursday who wants to discuss this with school officials.
To mommyof3 - What are the enrollment numbers for the last couple of years at FCS?
Maybe we shouldn't....
(posted by
mommyof3
, Feb. 27, 2008 7:39 pm)
judge anything until all facts are out. Unfortunately the paper is known to skew things. That is interesting what Mr. Yost said, it is also interesting that the school's statement is off the website already. Enrollment is declining, the school needs to handle this one carefully if they want numbers to increase. Quoting the Bible probably won't cut it this time.
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