Over four years ago, two Vina teacher/coaches were accused of sexual contact with female students. The second of the two coaches pleaded guilty to a simple physical assault and did not have to register as a sex offender, but was required to surrender his Alabama teaching license.
The first of the two accused coaches was Sonny Dewaine Tibbs who pleaded guilty to sex charges and, as part of his plea, was required to register as a sex offender. Tibbs is reportedly living in the Hamilton area at this time. Several reports have come in to us that Tibbs is no longer on the state registry. Is he on the Mississippi? No, he's not on that state's either. It is possible that Tibbs was given a pardon; however, that is extremely unlikely. We've not been able to find a record of any such pardon in this state, and doubt that it exists. If you live in Marion County or nearby and are concerned, please contact your sheriff's office. If you have any updated information on this sex offender, please forward it to us.
Tomorrow would have been David Andrasik's birthday. Tomorrow his killer will wake up in the Kilby Infirmary--yes, Hershel Graham is back in the prison medical unit.
What of Jason Green? He's at Kilby being processed. He has a 19 year sentence for shooting Shay Ledlow while Graham has only two years to actually serve. Why the difference?
Only two logical...and legal...reasons come to mind. Green was also under indictment for several other crimes of theft, and Graham ostensibly has such bad health the state doesn't want to foot his medical bills.
Is this justice? No. There can never be justice in such crimes.
We're left to ponder just how long Graham can play the system. Does he have health issues? Yes. He is a retired wrestler, so we assume he has some residual damage from that. He's also morbidly obese through every fault of his own.
How is life in prison different from Graham's life at home in Red Bay? Much less food and he probably doesn't get to choose the television programs he watches. Other than that? Nothing is different for this epitome of couch potato. Not much punishment for taking the life of a young husband and father, is it?
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Now let's look at Sonny Tibbs. He was sentenced in Franklin County for a sex crime and given only 60 actual days to serve. Hmmmm, he's also a retired wrestler. Interesting.
How is Tibbs serving his time? First, he's in Marion County, not Franklin. We have no idea how he managed that, but he did.
The real kicker? He's doing only weekends. Let's see how that would work: First he has a large meal with whatever family he has left and reports to jail early on Friday night, then off to a bunk to read or watch television if he prefers. Saturday? It must be excruciating to him depending on his cell mates and the menu of the day, but he is probably able to go outside to exercise or ask for Benadryl to induce sleep. Sunday morning would provide a worship service, probably two of them. Then another nap and it's time for him to go home. Now that's punishment.
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Our fellow blogger J. Redmon didn't believe America actually recorded Muskrat Love?
Teacher sex, anyone? It's not just at Vina High School, but we'll focus on one of those three cases today. If you remember, Sonny Dewayne Tibbs, Vina coach convicted of having sex with a female student under the age of 19, was to serve 60 days in jail as part of his sentence. Not much time, is it? Now it seems he's like Amanda Watkins--getting some preferential treatment?
We have previously mentioned some lawsuits that are to be made public this month or at least very shortly. Until they are public record, we have no intention of making them public. That doesn't mean that others will refrain from public comments and re-postings of private images. We know that some are making the rounds of Shoals cyberspace even as we type this.
Not that anyone will take our advice, but here goes. If you're a teacher, don't defecate where you eat. If you are just that immoral, at least visit your favorite Wally World for some of those latex thingamajimmies they have on the wall adjacent to the pharmacy. If you don't, you're no better than our favorite career criminal.
Franklin County now has a new state senator. Let's hope he will address this issue. Below is a list of grants from earlier this year that were filtered through the Franklin County Economic Development Commission. Per Roger Bedford in March:
While on the subject of grants, it was certainly a pleasure to be in Red Bay and Russellville on Friday to present Franklin County TVA in-lieu of tax service grants. These grants are applicable to all of Franklin County and it is a pleasure for me, working with Johnny Mack Morrow, to have presented over $750,000 worth of grants in Franklin County alone. We recently awarded Red Bay High School’s baseball program $600, Red Bay High School’s softball program $1,000, Vina High School’s softball program $500, Red Bay High School’s weight room project $2,000, Pleasant Site Fire Protection Authority $512.50, Phil Campbell Elementary $500 for a teacher workshop on behavioral disorders, Belgreen High School $500, East Franklin Jr. High $500, Red Bay High School $500, Tharptown High School $1,000, Vina High School $500, Belgreen High School’s softball program $1,000 and Russellville West Elementary $2,400 for the purchase of iPads to be used in classrooms.
Many feel that Russellville and Red Bay have received the lion's share of grants (a newer list will be posted soon), while Phil Campbell, Vina, Belgreen, etc. have higher poverty levels. Some of these grants are tax-based and therefore would be pro-rated by population numbers. Others would not.
We are accepting comments on this and hope that Sen. Stutts will now assist these smaller communities in acquiring any grant money for which they and their schools are eligible.
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While on the subject of Franklin County Schools...
We sincerely strive to bring correct information to our readers; that doesn't mean we don't make mistakes. Certainly we see many mistakes in other published media. We welcome corrections and addenda, but often it's impossible to verify. Below are some thoughts on recent Shoals stories of note:
1. The weir at Cypress Creek -- it's been again reported by the TimesDaily that "at least four" have died in the drowning machine. It's not hard to locate the names of at least five who have drowned, and all should be remembered: Jerry Roberson, Allen Weeks, Max Harlan, Will Pannell, and Daniel S. Smith. If anyone knows of more victims, please send us their names and the circumstances of their deaths.
2. Sonny Tibbs -- AL.com had this to say about Tibbs: Tibbs, formerly a teacher and girls' basketball coach at the high school, was teaching at Vina Elementary School at the time of his arrestFriday; however, a source close to the school (as well as "Scout") has informed us that Tibbs formerly coached boys' basketball and has never been involved in coaching the girls' team. It's also been stated that Tibbs' duties were not changed in September, so any cover up did not involve a transfer (Apparently Vina is such a small school that all 12 grades are housed together). We welcome comment on this also.
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Both the Quad-Cities Daily and Pen-N-Sword have had some excellent articles related to Greg Aziz and his arrest. Be sure to like them on Facebook.
When asked about the two current teacher sex scandals at Vina High School, Franklin County Superintendent Gary Williams replied, "I don't know how things like this happen." Perhaps that's part of the problem. We've had teacher friends who carefully chose every word spoken to students of the opposite sex; they felt such actions were needed in order to maintain a professional relationship that could never be questioned. It would seem familiarity doesn't always breed merely contempt.
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Williams has also reported to the press that the two 17 year-old girls (reported victims) were best friends. The superintendent stated that at the time of his arrest, Tibbs had been transferred to Vina Elementary School in August after a nine year stint at the high school. We're surmising someone knew something was not quite cricket.
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And just how old are these two teacher/coaches? The TimesDaily and some other news sources have stated Sonny Tibbs was 35. Arrest records, along with a college bio, list his birth date as 11/18/74, making him 39 in three days. Similarly, the age of Brian Keeton has been reported in the TD as 38. Official records list his birth date as 3/26/73, making him 40. Both more than old enough to know better.
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Sometimes reader e-mail is just too good not to pass along: I was thinking about the comment that "sex sells." It's nothing compared to death and dismemberment, but you may be able to throw that in too. The coachs' wives haven't finished with them yet.
It would be very easy to start out with a joke, but as one reader pointed out, problems at Vina are far more serious than losing a few ball games. Yet another reader sent us a Facebook posting in which a Vina High supporter accused this blog of making a mountain out of an ant bed, or words to that effect.
Boys' basketball coach Brian Scott Keeton has denied the allegations of sex with a 17 year-old student. If the allegations are false, the student should be punished severely. If true, Keeton should never be allowed to teach anywhere again. If true, we have to ask again, just what was this 40 year-old man thinking?
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On a November 5th Facebook post, Brian Keeton's wife quoted from an article on how to "fireproof your marriage." On November 8th, the day Sonny Tibbs was arrested, she asked for special prayers. We hope everyone does pray for this lady and her child.
Let's also remember the family of the 17 year-old student. As a friend says, it's not always the parents' fault.
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Okay...just one small joke: Coach Tibbs was booked in an Alabama hoodie. It's nice to see Franklin County is giving Auburn equal time.
First, a letter from an individual familiar with the situation at Vina High School:
I'd like for you or someone to ask the question as to why Tibbs was put on paid leave. The tenure law was changed last year for this very reason--so that boards can place an employee on unpaid leave and so that the employee doesn't get paid for being investigated. The law does have a provision that if the allegations are proven unfounded, then the employee is entitled to back pay. So what's the reason for paid leave? He confessed--case closed. It probably doesn't hurt him that he's good buddies with Gary Williams and Richie Hester. It would also be nice if you'd ask if Vina teachers had possibly been emboldened in these sorts of actions since school officials were pushing to drop the charges against (the last teacher caught having sex with a student). Just my two cents...these kids are being mistreated with the direct blessing of the administration at all levels and in the Franklin County DA's Office, in every way possible (allowing a teacher to resign instead of firing them, placing them on paid leave instead of unpaid, dropping the charges because the board didn't want the embarrassment and...the list goes on).
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WHNT is reporting that Sonny Dewaine Tibbs has been given two weeks to resign or be terminated. In the mean time, he's being paid by the taxpayers of Franklin County and Alabama. We agree with the letter writer: Tibbs confessed to at least three sexual encounters with a 17 year-old student--what else will it take for him to be fired immediately?
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A reader has commented that Tibbs and his wife Regina Michelle have only two children--not three as we previously blogged. We're happy to correct that, but it does not change the fact that Tibbs betrayed the trust of his wife, parents, and children.
We learned a long time ago that teachers are just like the general population; there are good ones and bad ones. We simply don't think it should take that much self control to stay away from a teenage girl entrusted to one's care, no matter how many married lovers she may have had.
Our blogs on accused Vina coach Sonny Tibbs and coach/principal James Pharr brought scads of e-mails to our inbox. Many contained personal statements (even attacks) concerning the two Vina High School employees, or others, that cannot be reproduced here. Those which can be published are very interesting:
* Shoalanda, get the facts straight. James Pharr is no coach. Vina's football team hasn't won a game in two years.He has coached 4 years and his record is 4-36. (Point taken)
* Franklin County School Superintendent Gary Williams told the parents 2 years ago that it was Pharr's last year as coach because he didn't want a principal coaching because it would take away from him paying attention to his principal duties. Well, he lied. He is still coach and look what all is happening.
* I call Vina High the house that (Board Chair) Randy Hester built. He was elected by the people for the people, but he runs it elected by the people for Randy Hester's family. Both of his sisters drive buses. His wife drives a bus and is an aide.
* No big loss if Tibbs gets fired. The boy's basketball team didn't win a game last year and probably won't this year.
* Pharr got a grant for $6000.00 to buy a new lawnmower for the school. He keeps it for the football field and doesn't let the other coaches use it unless they want to help pay for it. He said he was the one who asked Roger Bedford for the money for it and if they wanted to use it they could pay to use it. (If proved, this might be an ethics violation?)
* Convicts are on campus during school hours weed eating, mowing and cleaning. I don't think they should be on campus while children are present but it has been going on for 2 years. There was even had an instance last year or maybe the year before where a parent was arrested because she was bringing drugs to one of the convicts on campus.
And finally...
* I just read Lisa White's comment. My child was at Vina when all of that was going on with Bynam and said that was bull crap. The whole class was talking about that because that boy was in her classroom all day long. Even when she was to be teaching them. When the Tibbs thing broke on the news my kids and their friends who were at our house said they had all been suspecting something because the two of them were always in the new gym together with or without other students in there. A principal should be aware of this stuff. My child said Pharr has no idea what is going on at school because all he does is stay at the weight room or the field house.
We received several comments that were in a similar vein, but you get the picture. The image of an asylum run by the inmates does come to mind. One reader suggested an attorney general's probe. We doubt that is feasible, but anyone may file an ethics complaint with the state ethics commission or contact the accrediting body:
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Telephone: (334) 242-1998
Fax: (334) 242-0268
Delivery Address
100 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36104-3758
A few readers have asked us about Vina High School Principal James K. Pharr and how much he knew of at least two sex scandals in his school. Obviously, we can't say what Pharr knew...or to use the old cliche'...just when he knew it.
Pharr was raised in Hackleburg and received his teaching degree from the University of North Alabama. In 2010, the Franklin County Board of Education renewed his contract as principal of the small county high school. Pharr was principal when a married female teacher began a sexual affair with a student over ten years her junior. Now another married teacher has initiated an affair under Pharr's watch.
If the latest news accounts are correct, it was the family of Sonny Tibbs' victim/lover that informed authorities of the affair--not school officials. We didn't have to dig too deeply to discover that Pharr is a coach himself and leads the Red Devils football team.
It's beginning to look a little like a good ol' boy network, isn't it? We hope the Franklin County Board of Education will hold anyone responsible who knew about Coach Sonny Tibb's sexploits with students...but we're not holding our breath.
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We haven't done an actual count of how many secondary schools are in the Lauderdale/Colbert/Franklin area. Counting non-public schools, an estimate would number close to 20. Of these 20 or so schools, the only two reported cases of teacher-student sex have been at one school in Franklin County...and not a very large school at that. Either such cases are grossly under reported or the problems at Vina are so out of control that no responsible parent would send their child to that school.
It's November, so what's more apt than some turkey talk. No, we're not going to discuss fowl, but something...someone...foul. If you haven't read any news today, here's an interesting update:
What was Coach Tibbs thinking? Sure, we know the joke about how some men (all men?) think. Yet most manage to keep their pants zipped. What happened with Sonny Dewaine Tibbs? What has he given up?
He may still have his job until the Franklin County Board of Education meets, but he won't have it long. He won't have his teaching license long either. We don't know his wife or how she will react to his affair, but we do know Sonny boy has lost her trust. He may have lost her. If there is a divorce, you may as well say he's lost his three children also. Finally, if his "victim's" parents are inclined to help Franklin County prosecute, you can bet he may very well lose his freedom, along with all that money paid for bail and legal fees.
We may assume that no matter what he's lost, he will still have his career as a professional wrestler. Special, isn't it?
Now that we've discussed Coach Tibbs, what about the 17 year-old girl? We have no idea why a young woman would want to have sex with a married man approaching middle age, but some do. Even if her family is so louche as to not think twice about her sexual faux pas, you can be sure her classmates will not be that kind. In a school the size of Vina, everyone knows who the girl is. So do her neighbors. Any reputable college may look twice at her application for admission, assuming she even wants to further her education. The well to do, educated suitors won't be knocking at her door either. We have to wonder if she still thinks it was worth it...
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