Teacher pleads guilty to sexual battery

BY ELLEN BILTZ

Date published: 7/10/2008

BY ELLEN BILTZ

A former Fredericksburg Christian School teacher pleaded guilty yesterday to molesting a woman now in her early 20s for at least six years.

Thomas G. Best, 53, of Spotsylvania County accepted a plea agreement yesterday to avoid what was supposed to be a day-long jury trial.

In the agreement, he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties.

Best would have faced trial on four addition counts of aggravated sexual battery (one for each year in which molestation took place), but those charges were dropped following his guilty pleas.

The woman Best sexually abused was not one of his former students and is not being identified by The Free Lance-Star, in order to protect her identity.

Prosecutor Amy Harper, who handled the case, said a sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10 in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

Best was indicted in February following a Virginia State Police investigation.

According to the plea agreement, he confessed to his church pastor of the sexual abuse and an addiction to child pornography after the victim came forward with allegations of abuse.

Entered into evidence as part of the agreement were letters of apology Best had written, as well as a confession statement to police.

The agreement further states that following the initial allegations, Best resigned from his role as a computer science teacher and golf coach at Fredericksburg Christian Schools.

The $10,000 bond set for Best when he was charged in February was revoked following yesterday's guilty plea, Harper said.

Best faces up to 50 years in prison if maximum sentence is given on each charge at his Nov. 10 sentencing.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 7/10/2008