CULLMAN — A Cullman County judge has denied a motion to dismiss an attempted second degree extortion charge levied against a former Cold Springs High School teacher in July.
According to Cullman County Circuit Court records, Judge Don Hardeman’s decision to uphold the charge against Derrick LePard, 25, of Holly Pond, was filed last week. No reason was given as to why the motion was denied.
With the charge upheld, LePard’s trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the Cullman County Courthouse.
“Mr. LePard remains eager to clear his name and is looking forward to trial in this case,” said Champ Crocker, LePard’s defense attorney.
Crocker declined to comment on the judge’s decision to deny the motion.
LePard was indicted by a Cullman County grand jury and arrested in July on the attempted extortion charge as well as one count of attempting to produce obscene matter of a child under 17 years old.
Hardeman denied Crocker’s motion to dismiss the child pornography charge in September.
The extortion charge of the indictment states LePard allegedly threatened to lower the grades of one individual — whose identity is being withheld because he is a juvenile — unless he provided photographs of himself.
The pornography charge of the indictment alleges LePard attempted to knowingly film, print, record, photograph or otherwise produce obscene matter containing a visual reproduction of a person under 17 years old engaged in an act of sado-masochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, nudity or other sexual conduct.
The charges against LePard stem from an investigation the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office began in March at the request of the Cullman County Board of Education. The board had allegedly learned of inappropriate text messages LePard had sent to students.
During the course of the investigation, deputies seized LePard’s school office computer during school hours and searched his residence, where they seized his personal computer. Sheriff’s reports allege that more than 10 pictures of child pornography were recovered from the personal computer.
The alleged photos did not depict any Cullman County residents.
LePard resigned from his job soon after the investigation started.
Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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