CULLMAN, AL (WBRC) – A second judge has recused himself from the trespassing case involving a retiring Cullman High School principal and the school’s assistant principal.
Judge Kim Chaney cited spousal connection to the school as a reason to remove himself from the case.
“As the wife of the undersigned Judge was a Special Education Teacher for 34 years and taught many years at Cullman High School; and even though she has recently retired from the Cullman City School System, still maintains close professional relationships there,” said the document filed in the District Court of Cullman County.
Cullman Principal Dr. Elton Bouldin and Assistant Principal Mark Stephens face trespassing charges after the mother of a student said the two showed up at the family’s home in April and refused to leave following an assault involving the student.
The student’s mother says the men were asked three times to leave, but claims that instead of doing so, the men stayed for over 45 minutes.
Both were placed on administrative leave.
Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson announced their reinstatement the same day that charges were upgraded for both men from third-degree criminal trespass to first-degree.
Bouldin announced his retirement from Cullman City Schools in June. His retirement will go into effect Aug. 1.
Judge Wells R. Turner III also recused himself from the case due to his child’s enrollment in the school and the former Chief Juvenile Probation Officer’s association with the Cullman County School Board.
The July 6 hearing in the case has been continued to a later date.
The case will be transferred to Judge Greg Nicholas for reassignment.
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