Ex-Teacher's Trial a Sham, Supporters Say

(May 11) -- Supporters of Tonya Craft are speaking out as both sides anxiously await a verdict today in the five-week trial of the former northwest Georgia elementary school teacher accused of molesting three young girls. Craft's supporters called the entire ordeal a "sham" that should never have been allowed to occur.

"It's divided the community between those who are intelligent and can think for themselves and those who are blindly led," local resident Harmony Lefler told AOL News. "It's horrible to say that, but it is the truth."

Keri Mann, a resident of nearby Chattanooga, Tenn., and a member of the Facebook group Truth for Tonya, agrees.

"I have not met one person who believes she is guilty," Mann said after closing arguments Monday in Ringgold, Ga. "There are several teachers and former teachers in my family who were all stunned by this case. ... As a future teacher, I am scared to even work in this community because of these allegations."

Craft, a mother of two, was arrested in June 2008, after she was accused of molesting three girls, age 5 and 6. Prosecutors say the incidents occurred at her former residence on Sycamore Drive.

The five-week trial began in Catoosa County Superior Court on April 12. Jurors heard tearful testimony from the three young accusers, who are now 8 and 9 years old, and their parents. One of the alleged victims said Craft molested her "in kindergarten and first grade."

As the trial continued, many conflicting details emerged. One of the alleged victims admitted to lying in a previously taped interview, and another said she was promised a toy for talking to police. Other times, witnesses said they could not remember pertinent details of the case.

A nurse and doctor testified that the three girls in question showed signs "suspicious of sexual abuse," but Dr. Nancy Fajman, a professor of pediatric medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, said she saw nothing suspicious in her review of the forensic photos of the exam.

"I find nothing suspicious about it, and I would report it as a normal examination," Fajman said.

The defense also presented several teachers from Chickamauga Elementary School who said they had no reason to believe Craft had acted inappropriately with any of her students and spoke highly of her as a teacher.

Craft's attorneys argued she was the victim of revenge, following an April 2008 investigation she had initiated when she began to suspect her own children were being abused after her divorce. That investigation, which was later closed, occurred one month before the allegations against Craft surfaced.

Craft took the stand in her own defense during the trial, saying she was "falsely accused."

"I did not and I have not sexually abused any child," she said.

The trial wrapped up Monday with prosecutor Len Gregor arguing there was "plenty of evidence to prove this defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Defense attorney Demosthenes Lorandos countered, saying the children falsely believe they were molested because the parents "didn't know how to interview their kids properly."

A jury made up of seven men and five women began debating Craft's case Monday afternoon.

"It's a sham. The evidence just doesn't add up," local resident and Craft supporter Carol Graham told AOL News. "She was a teacher for over a decade, and there were only three victims. If she were a true sexual predator, like they're trying to make her out to be, there would be more victims."

Graham also said she felt for Craft's parents, who have spent their entire life savings on their daughter's defense.

"This has cost them over half a million dollars," Graham said. "Craft has also lost everything, including her job and her home."

The Chickamauga school system fired Craft because the terms of her bond stated she was not allowed to be around children. The bank foreclosed on her home when mounting legal debt made it impossible for her to make the mortgage payments. Craft also lost custody of her young daughter to her ex-husband.

AOL News was unable to find a local community member willing to go on record speaking out against Craft; however, the "Today" show recently spoke with Miriam Boyd, a supporter of the alleged victims' families. Boyd was adamant about Craft's guilt.

"There's too much that these girls have in common," Boyd said. "Yes, there has been some confusion, but they're little girls. The bottom line is all three of them have very similar in-depth knowledge of things that they shouldn't have knowledge of."

Regardless of the jury's decision in the case, Lefler warns there is one thing everyone can count on:

"If she's convicted, this case is going to have a huge backlash and teachers are going to be afraid to get close to their students," Lefler said. "It's sad because in a lot of cases a hug from a teacher is the only type of attention a student gets, and teachers will be too afraid to do that."

Deliberations began again this morning.