Tonya Craft news conference
Tonya Craft and her defense team field questions from reporters after their victory Tuesday. Back row: Cary S. King, Scott King, Clancy Covert. Bottom row: Demosthenes Lorandos and Tonya Craft. (Catoosa News photo/Adam Cook)
Tonya Craft speaks to reporters Tuesday evening at her parents’ house in East Ridge, Tenn. Craft was found not guilty on 22 counts of child molestation. (Catoosa News photo/Adam Cook)
On Tuesday about 4:30 p.m., rumors began to emerge from the hallways of the Catoosa County Courthouse in downtown Ringgold. Shortly thereafter, defense attorney Scott King gave the nod that a verdict had indeed been reached.
Numerous supporters were slowly escorted into the courtroom, as the verdict was read, and Tonya Craft was acquitted of all 22 counts of child sex charges she has been facing for nearly two years.
“All I can say is thank Jesus,” one supporter said.
Craft, 37, a former Chickamauga Elementary School kindergarten teacher, was accused of molesting three children. The trial was held in Catoosa County Superior Court, with Judge Brian House presiding. She faced 10 counts of child molestation, six counts of aggravated sexual battery and six counts of aggravated child molestation. She had maintained her innocence since her arrest in June 2008. She was fired from her job at Chickamauga Elemen-tary. Her trial began April 12.
Shortly after the verdict was revealed Tuesday, Craft and her attorneys left the courthouse and headed north to the home of Craft’s parents in East Ridge, Tenn., where she and her attorneys held a victory celebration and a news conference.
With family, friends, supporters and news reporters in attendance, defense attorney Demosthenes Lorandos addressed reporters, and then Craft herself addressed the crowd.
“I had to expect the worst and hoped for the best,” Craft said.
She said she was in positive shock when “not guilty” was rendered on the first count, but she claimed that she had to wait until all 22 counts were read before she could feel any relief.
Craft went on to say there were no winners in this case and she’s eager to see her daughter and make up for the last two birthdays she will never be able to get back.
After the short news conference, Craft and her attorneys left in a limousine for Atlanta, to catch an airplane to New York. Craft will be making rounds on the talk show circuit over the next few days. She was scheduled to be on the NBC "Today" show Wednesday morning.
Asked what her future would entail, Craft said she always wanted to go to law school before this ordeal took place and now has a renewed interest in the field. She said she wants to help others get through situations similar what she has experienced.
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Please don't fight. I can be like the cream filling of a moon pie. The soft and sweet filling in the middle. Enough to go around to both of you.
You can cuff and spank me. I will even let Rossville mayor Johnny Baker watch. He has been wanting to cuff me for a while now.
Glad I am not in NW Georgia they may come get me for child molestation over this post.
Les Coffey
Better Becareful flirting with that man... I know a girl that will claw your eyes out.
I may have just accepted you as a friend. My e-mail is lesc@lescoservices.com.
You not want to associate with me they may arrest you.
Les Coffey
Dirge: I jsut do not get it. Why do you find it neccesary to stir the crap about me. Just to get it all out there. Go to the Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk and ask for file number 04-D-334. That is the infamous divorce file. They will need addvance notice for it is 4 bankers boxes of files, but it is in a special place so they can eaily obtain it. I must say it reads like a cheap slimey novel. Has all the good stuff in it. Sex, money, women, drinking, alledged abuse, wild parties, orgies and all that other good stuff. While you are at it maybe you can make a book or movie so I can recover some of the money I spent and still owe the ex.
I do think that you may want to go back and look at the definition of the word evicerating. You may also better get a different thesaurus for the one you have does not work well. You do not need to try and use words others may not understand to look smart. Just write what is on your mind. People will respect and beleive you more. Also making fun of folks just does not get you any additional credibility. I do not think my hair or lack of it has anything to do with my divorce or the Craft trial.
Just to clear the air. I am also fat bald wear glasses and am ugly. I pick my nose, fart in public and eat with my hands. I in general am a rude,crude and socially unacceptable person.
Yes it is so true I have been arrested more times than I cn recall. 3 times for DUI when I was a young boy about 19. Man I should have never kicked that first cops ass. I just dont think I would have gotten the other 2 DUI's othewise. I must say I thought a black eye came with the body until I was 25. Been in just busted so many times the last year from Rossville arresting me for trespassing on my own property that I started advertising in it. Got to noticing all my customers, friends and associates kept telling me they saw me in just busted. It made me realize a lot of people read that paper.
I also ride a motorcycle and drink a few drinkls on occasion (stopped getting drunk) I have been to a casino and even went to a swingers party one time. Been to a few nude dance clubs but did not like them. Went on vacation with a woman that was married while I had a girlfriend. Man was that fun. Never have done any drugs except the time my sister tried to dry het pot out in the overn and it caught on fire and smoked up the house (I was 7 then). Also I have slept with women I cannot remember their names or was to drunbk to care I figure every woman I meet is a future ex lover.
I have been married 2-4 tmes depending on if you count the 2 times I was sued for common law marriage in Georgia. They did change that law because so many people like me was getting caught up in suits after spending the night with a woman in a hotel.
After all of that I still have my kids 50% of the time and love raising them. Of course I may be in the Walker County jailfor being a child molestor as soon as Buzz Franklin and Dave Scroggins reads this. Definately know not to get on Craigs list and try to find women. The Free Press artlicle this morning tipped me off.
I hope this clears things up for you and please if I have missed any of my indescrections just post them on here and I will admnit accordingly.
I do beleive after thinking about all the things listed above I am now qualified to be a politician.
Les Coffey
Its funny how you know so much about this man. His sexual endeavors, names of his sex partners, and pretty much about everything about him. Are you the "scorned" ex wife or just some HICK gossiper who doesn't have a leg to stand on? Why must you bash this guy on here? What has he done to you? Again I ask you if you where underneath the mattress when he was "screwing" all these people. Or maybe your jealous because he has a lot of money??? Does it piss you off that he doesn't really agree with the law and how it is practiced in your town??? You know what F**K the police - yes I said it. Your town tried to prosecute an innocent woman because of gossipers and haters just like you who don't know how to keep your mouth shut. I wish you nothing but the worst in your future and that's from the bottom of my heart. Also, KARMA is a B**CH and I how all the shit you talk about people and the hurtful things you say and do will come back to you 10-FOLD. I cant help to laugh at all your posts to this man. Its like you the county gossip!!! LOL! Get a life or better yet maybe you need to get a good F**K so you stop being bitter and hateful.
As to your bogus claim of slander, it's all true though it's been subjected to your defensive self righteous descriptions. Public records are...well...public records. Don't like it? Don't put yourself in the system. Perhaps a link to the public and VERY legal court dispostions is required?
I'm done eviscerating you. You're far too easy and not even worth the sport of pointing out your hypocrisy.
Ciao Leslie.
I see no reason to spend my money and time on spell check. This simply as blog not a real letter. Of course it may be that I do not know how to type but rather peck around on a computer.
No need for fake hair I am 100% genuine and do not mnd posting my name of taking blame and or credt for my words or actions. So the fake hair is not needed.
Asbestos, what a joke. That is unless you are the city and tearing down a building with it.
Defensive absolutely not, just stating facts. Why can you not respond wth facts instead of name calling and slander.
I protest too little and the lack of protest is how the Craft case came about, Ms. Parker is missing, the bodies were found in Trion and no telling what else. I need to protest more.
Les Coffey
Quite defensive arent we? Here's a little saying of my own:
"Me thinks he doth protest too much"
Yes please name names and places. Yes Criminal Trespass. I must say that is a true statement not just once but 3 tmes. That is for trespassing on the Peerless site. You know the site I am managing trustee of and is owned by a trust for the benefit of my Children. I do think that is the same 3 cases Mr. David Scroggins has a current criminal hearing pendng before none other than Briam House in the near future. I do think it is the same case that is pending before the federal courts in Atlanta in the suit we have against Walker County and Rossville.
Yes you are correct domestic assualt and resisting arrest. Kind of funny Ron Durby the general seesions court judge in Hamilton County threw those out and ripped the ex and the cops ass for their conduct. That is not to mention good ole L. Marie Williams was even less pleased with the fiasco. I do beleive that is how the ex got an ex-parte order to get custody of the kids while I was in federal court on a civil matter. Of course I stated once L. Marie Williams heard about the sittuation she split the parenting time 50/50. That was in 2004. Yes 6 years ago.
So yes I know first hand what L. Marie Williams will do. As far as that is concerend you must surely be one of the many lawyers that have represented my ex since I do beleive the He can buy his way out of anything was the argument you made when you accused William Brown the specal master of being paid off. Maybe you need to send Mr. Brown the 10,500 dollars you stll owe him for your half of hearing the case. Oh wait I know since I did pay him my half he was paid off. No he was paid for his court ordered services.
Come on get real You throw the crap out and I can and will shoot it down. I have a saying and it goes lie this. You have an conversating anus. better known as you are talking out your ass.
Les Coffey
I just read his posts with a certain amount of hilarity after his own indiscretions.
Slander?? Pshh. Shall I start naming names and the whens and wheres?
Convictions? After hearing you brag often and loudly you can pay your way out of anything you get caught at....
Criminal trespassing, Two domestic assaults, resisting arrest, ect ect.
In the end I have no interest in Mrs. Crafts case at all. Just found someone of your limited character talking about the law.
Ciao.
LMAO. I love it. You hit the nail on the head. I have no idea who the person is and could care les. They can say what they want does not bother me.
Tonya is not guilty and the jury decided that. Just to get it out in the air. I am a sorry low down womanizing, drinking, criminal that has no morals, ethics or class. The only problem is I just wish the courts would have seen it that way in my divorce.
Les POS Coffey
LOL I am still LMAO over your post.