Jim Galloway has the report:
A complaint against McBerry was filed by the girl’s mother in December 2002. Connie Rutherford, a spokeswoman for the Henry County school system, said McBerry resigned his position at Patrick Henry High in Stockbridge less than a month later.
The student told investigators that she and the teacher had kissed, and that he fondled her breasts. McBerry told investigators she hugged him. In their separate interviews, McBerry and the female student agreed on one point: McBerry gave her a cell phone to keep in touch.
The age of the girl is not mentioned in documents. She did not attend Patrick Henry High — a fact that doesn’t matter in the eyes of the Professional Standards Commission.Witnesses followed the teacher — who at the time was married — and student to a rendezvous on a dirt road, after the girl’s mother and stepfather warned him to stay away from her. McBerry denied, in writing, that the meeting had occurred. Then he admitted, also in writing, that it had.
In other words, McBerry LIED in his rant over the weekend yet again, as he said these events had never happened – yet he admitted in writing at the time that in fact, they had.
Also noted in this article is that apparently Carl Camon, a Democratic candidate similar to McBerry only in that he is polling similar numbers at the moment, apparently had similar problems. Also from the Galloway article:
Camon says he was set up by a group of unruly students he had disciplined. “A group of little girls in the back said, ‘Mr. Camon, we’re going to get you.’ And, buddy, they put it on me,” he said.
Camon accused the Public Standards Commission of a “witch hunt,” and said it would have no effect on his candidacy. “I’ve been kind of waiting for this to come. This is an opportunity for me to stand up as tall as I can for teachers who are innocent,” he said.
At least 22 students were interviewed, the case file indicates. The findings of fact, according to the GPSC:
“Multiple student witnesses indicated that the educator made inappropriate comments to and deliberately stared at the breasts and buttocks of multiple female students on multiple occasions. Some witnesses indicated that inappropriate comments had been whispered to students. Witnesses also observed the educator look up students’ skirts.”
[UPDATE] Some thoughts:
1) McBerry’s supporters are already trying to say this is a classic he-said/she-said. But it really isn’t. Because in this case, many of the things McBerry denied in that letter he sent over the weekend are turning out to have actually happened. One of the few things about it that is turning out to be true is that his dad is, in fact, an ADA. When I’ve got two people standing before me and one of their stories checks out in most details while the other one’s does not, guess who tends to get the benefit of the doubt on issues of the story that can’t be conclusively proven on either side? Note here I’m talking about ANY two people with ANY issue between them, not just this particular case.
2) Some have been telling me that I must be elated with this news, due to the fact that I am even more adamantly opposed to McBerry than I am to John Oxendine, because I firmly believe Ray McBerry is pushing for a Second American Civil War, which will ultimately be lost and lead directly to a true fascist state, ala a nearly literal incarnation of the story depicted in 1984. To that charge I say this:
Ray McBerry brought this on himself. More than likely, had he never sent that email this past Saturday, most people would never have really known anything about these allegations. Reporters would have had better things to do with investigating bigger names in the race, and the other candidates more than likely would have simply completely ignored him and not bothered with the effort to dig this stuff up.
There really is no victory in defeating a man who has defeated himself. Indeed, for the battle ending like this, I honestly feel sorry for McBerry. With these allegations surfacing, he’s going to have a very rough few weeks and months, and with them being as public as they now are, he may never be able to fully recover.
Ray McBerry clearly needs psychiatric and spiritual counseling, and I sincerely hope he withdraws from the race to save himself any further embarrassment and allow himself a chance to seek said counseling. Indeed, I wish him the best in it, and I genuinely hope he comes out a stronger man.
I wish I could say I was shocked.
I wonder how his kool-aid Klan supporters will spin this?
They’re already trying to claim it “is a classic he-said/she-said”.
Nevermind the fact that he KNEW his daddy was an ADA and could potentially quiet any trouble.
They can “he said/she said” all they want. Unfortunately, what “he said” at the time is probably the most damning part.
The most amusing part is that if he had kept his mouth shut instead of sending out that idiotic email, there’s actually a good chance nothing would have come of all of this.
Good job with the headline. Classic shock media. Factually correct…well, not so much. The judge refused to issue a warrant for McBerry’s arrest because he said the parents had no case. In addition, McBerry’s suspension of his license (note to readers: suspension is temporary, and in McBerry’s case it was 6 days) was hardly standard punishment for child molestation. Had he been found guilty, not only would the punishment been greater from that aspect, there most certainly would have been a criminal case.
Hey, anybody remember anything about being innocent until proven guilty? You know, tomorrow someone could accuse Jeff of raping them, and there would probably be an investigation of some kind. That doesn’t mean he’s guilty. Use some commons sense, people.
Really hard to get blind justice when the daddy of the accused is an ADA in the circuit, Naomi. Furthermore, you failed to note that even though the judge dismissed the case, he STILL ordered McBerry not to have any contact with the girl – showing further doubt that McBerry was innocent here. Remember, as we’ve seen with Ken Hodges, just because something can’t be PROVEN doesn’t mean it didn’t HAPPEN.
Furthermore, you clearly have NO clue about what actually happens in public schools in Georgia. Often, once this type of suspension happens the teacher is allowed to resign and save themselves the damage and embarrassment of having these types of things become public.
Is there any evidence his father intervened in the case? No? Then shut up about it. That’s called spreading rumors.
Is is a plausible – likely even – scenario, and such discussions would truly be “he said/he said” (though neither party, if smart, would ever admit to them).
You’re just mad because you’re tied at the hip with a child molester.
Often, a school system does a very quiet investigation to avoid damaging the reputation of a possibly innocent teacher before contacting the GAPSC. I read the link Doug Deal placed on PeachPundit about the case, and it appears that McBerry made a false statement at first, then changed it later. I would imagine this is the singular act that caused the school system to turn it over to the GAPSC.
When I asked another McBerry supporter to ask him about his license being suspended, she came back with “I talked to Ray and he said his license was just expired because he didn’t keep it up.” Baloney. She had to go back to him again to ask about the suspension. Something smells here. If everything was on the level, McBerry would have told the volunteer the whole truth when she asked about his license, not leaving out the part about the suspension, which is public record.
The saddest part is that his supporters will accept his LOS chairmanship and possible impropriety with a young woman and not question their loyalty to the man. Even if he is completely innocent, any man who has integrity and common sense and teaches students knows that you are NEVER alone with a female student to avoid even the APPEARANCE of impropriety.
First, has anyone tried to contact the female student?
Second, who would the female student contact if she wishes?
Also what about the restaining order that i believe was instituted? And about the pastor of the church he was attending asked him to leave. Or the fact he was just a sub youth pastor,till they got a full timer.
Yes i believe all of this because he dated my sister like 2 years ago for over a year and he was crazy boyfriend..Stuff you wouldn’t even believe and he even gave her a cell phone to keep in touch.. sound familiar
And yes his father is an ADA and he had that threw out quick of course it would be hidden..
Yup gave a cell phone to the student. Thats to keep her from her family and isolate his victoms
sotrue,
If the female student wishes, she can contact us via our contact page.
She (or anyone else) can also call us or send us a text message to 229 234 0570
But who are you for her to contact? What would you do? But still no one is trying to get her side of the story.
secretgirl88 if ur sis would come out publicly about it i bet the female student would to
sotrue:
I can get her story out there. I’ve got friends in both the blogosphere and pro media, and we can get her story out while protecting her. As for who I am, I’m a blogger in SWGA who has worked with kids just like her for the majority of my life now. What I do specifically is completely up to her.
This is what we miss, McBerry might be a grand guy, but once you’re hiding something- you are politics as usual. Step aside and make room for someone who is not blemished in this way. To fight for SELF is what we already have. Someone is not for the better good if they are looking out for themself.
This is clearly not a mudslinging- there are facts. So rather than sit here and let someone talk talk talk us back onto their side- move on and look for men/women of honor to put in such an important role. Mr McBerry might be a fabulous man, but with this record, he is clearly not the man for this job. If ther is no one of honor and without this typs of Taboo blemish- then good men and women reading this- it may be time for YOU to stand up. Please let’s move on. Our country is a ticking timebomb. We don’t have time to muddle through all this bs. Be someone of honor, not someone who thinks they can appear that way- or get out of the way.
sotrue: “no one is trying to get her side of the story” because no one knows who she is. Frankly, we would love to get her side and put it out there. The professional media here in Albany, and some around this state, read here. Even if Jeff or I don’t contact the pro media, the story will more than likely get picked up. That is, if she’s interested in coming forward. If she’s not, that’s definitely her right and I can’t say that I’d blame here on bit.
she dont want to come out they already went to court for harrassment so she is trying to leave it in the past
How did the she do in court?
good…restraining order i believe..it was a few years ago
The term “went to court for harassment” indicates it’s for something more than a restraining order. That’s a simple court order that doesn’t actually do anything other than make the other party keep their distance. And that definitely doesn’t indicate that this girl, or her family, got legal satisfaction. Again, restraining orders just require someone to stay away. It’s not a conviction, it’s not a legal judgement of guilt. It’s just a court order to stay away.
Obviously, I’m not speaking for the girl since I’ve never talked to her, but a restraining order against McBerry isn’t likely to be a sign that she’s trying to leave this in the past. She may well want justice, and so far it looks like she hasn’t gotten it.
for tom… i did also said i believe thats what happenned my sister kept that stuff to her self and only talked abut it with our dad they didnt want us to worry..so before you get an attitude and start sticking up for mcberry dont because i know him well and he isnt worth it at all..my sister is a grown women and will stay quiet about everything it is real imature to come out just to get you name in the paper and she is ou
t that person
Where on Earth did you think I was sticking up for McBerry? All I did was point out how your choice of words indicated something more than what apparently happened. I even said that this girl hadn’t gotten justice. A restraining order isn’t justice. A six day suspension of his teaching certificate wasn’t either. But apparently you think that saying she hadn’t “taken” him to court was sticking up for him?
One thing that’s a universal for Jeff and I, as co-owners of this blog, is that McBerry is about as likely to get sympathy and defending from either of us as I have of turning purple and becoming part unicorn. It just ain’t going to happen.
But I’m also going to point out how someone’s choice of phrasing indicates something different from the facts. Don’t like it? Don’t comment.
I have known Ray personally for at least 20 years. He was a substitute teacher at my high school in the 90s. He would constantly flirt with me & even tried to walk me to my other classes. I would go around the school if I had to in order to avoid him, as would my girl friends. Ray ended up marrying a friend of mine– a precious young lady. He cheated on her with a girl who rode the bus to his church– I’m not certain if the girl was of legal age or not so I won’t speak to that. I’ve heard story after story like this about Ray over the years. He is complete slime & it’s so sad that he uses a Christian platform as part of his campaigning. But God knows and Ray McBerry will reap what he’s sown.
It should not matter what your politics or agenda are if a moral issue is involved. If an adult no matter what party, color, religion, culture, etc. takes advantage of a child’s innocence, we should all be shocked. It is not right or moral for any adult to take the innocence of a child. But for a teacher or youth pastor to misuse that authority and power over a child it is an abomination. There is a judge who is mightier than politics and any one who has sinned against God in this way, you must pity. As a youth pastor you have not just sinned against a child but you have sinned against the church, the very bride of Christ that is pure and clean. And your responsibility as a servant of God to the young minds and lives that you were to be an example and to be ministering to was to teach them about God and His being.
And what you have done to that young person is made them feel dirty and defeated in life before they even have a chance to begin a life. If you are a born again Christian you have an obligation to vote for Godly values and men. Don’t be blinded to the truth of a person’s character by their politics.
And when these predators want to enter public office as a servant, they vehemently lie, “I did not have sex with that woman”, sound familiar. Or maybe “at best false gossip and out right lies.” This person whether a child of God or not has not repented of their sin. Depending on their spiritual condition they are on their way to a burning hell or a rod to their backsides (spanking) from their Heavenly Father.
I heard of a pastor that started a church and collected a large amount of money to be used as the building fund. His wife and he took off out of state with the money. They repented and moved back to their homes. But within a few years the wife died of a long hard battle with cancer and there was a child born among their children from incest relations. Be sure your sins will find you out…………
My advice is to any one who has these tendencies is get some spiritual help and definitely stay out of the publics eye, that would include politics.
McBerry was a teacher of mine back in the 90′s at Stone Mountain Christian School when his preference for young girl’s started. He dated and married a student in fact. He is a slime ball and a liar of the worst kind. I can’t believe he doesn’t choke every time he identifies himself as a “christian.” And one has to wonder why all this dirt has taken so long to come out. Is it because his dad is the ADA? You betcha. Ray knows people. All I have to say is if you support Ray and think he’s a good guy – look up public records. Know who you’re voting for. It wouldn’t be the first time a politician has lied about his sexual past. John Edwards anyone?
I believe this is intentional smear and it will probably work well. I refuse to vote for anyone that’s out there as they are all MORE corrupt than Ray McBerry ever dreamed of being. I hope you all can sleep at night after you finish using the diebold.
Well, since I would vote for Kermit the Frog before I’d vote for McBerry, I won’t have any problem sleeping, but thanks for your concern.
Oh, and nice try with the smear comment…but really, as our trolls go, you only get a C-