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December 5, 2009

Lepard trial set for Monday

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — A former Cold Springs teacher accused of extortion and attempting to produce obscene matter of a child is tentatively set for trial on Monday.

The trial for Derrick LePard, 25, has been delayed since September due to an abundance of cases on the Cullman County Circuit Court docket.

A Cullman County grand jury indicted LePard, 25, of Holly Pond, in July on one count of attempted extortion in the second degree and one count of attempting to produce obscene matter of a child under 17-years-old. LePard has pled not guilty to both charges.

An investigation into LePard’s alleged activities began in March while he was a science teacher at Cold Springs High School.

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.

LePard’s attorney Champ Crocker filed a motion to dismiss the attempted second degree extortion charge earlier this month, though Judge Don Hardeman denied the motion and upheld the charge.

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.

Hardeman also denied Crocker’s motion in September to dismiss the child pornography charge.

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.

LePard resigned from his job soon after the investigation started.

During the course of the investigation, deputies seized LePard’s school office computer during school hours. They also 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.

Crocker did not return a message seeking comment by press time.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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