UPDATED 3:40 p.m.
Dr. Susan Patterson, Superintendent of Cullman City Schools, has issued the following statement:
The internal investigation has been completed in relation to the student home visit which resulted in the administrative leave for Dr. Bouldin and Mr. Stephens. The issues related to the school system have been addressed, appropriate action taken, and both administrators will return to their positions effective Friday, April 29, 2016. If further action becomes necessary, it will be taken at the appropriate time. The mission of CHS is “Inspiring students for lifelong success through Character, Citizenship and Scholarship.” As we enter the final month of school, it is vitally important that our faculty and students continue in their work to fulfill that mission. The support of our community is a driving force in the success of our schools and the tradition of excellence Cullman City Schools is known for, and that is what we want to continue.
CULLMAN – Charges against Cullman High School Principal Dr Elton Bouldin and Assistant Principal Mark Stephens today have been upgraded from third-degree criminal trespassing to first-degree criminal trespassing. Alabama Code 13A-7-2 lists a first-degree charge as a Class A Misdemeanor.
This comes after this morning's news that the judge in the case has recused himself.
This is a developing story….
Publisher's Note: An erroneous report was sent to CullmanSense stating both men had confessed to illegally being on the property. Once we were notified the erroneous report was taken down.
Background:
(via WBRC on April 26, 2016)
New details are emerging about what may have led to the principal and assistant principal of Cullman High School being arrested and placed on administrative leave.
Dr. Elton Bouldin and Mark Stephens face misdemeanor trespassing charges.
Depositions have been filed with the district court of Cullman.
The testimony was given by the mother of the student whose home the men are accused of trespassing in.
The mother says Bouldin was aware of an assault that happened to her son on April 11, but did not report it to authorities, nor punish the student who committed the offense.
Instead, she says she got a call from Stephens on April 14, asking to meet with her.
Because of work, she says she was not able to meet until the next day.
That's when she says Boudin and Stephens went to her home, waited for her son to arrive, then went inside their home, including her son's bedroom.
The mother says the men were asked three times to leave, but claims that instead of doing so, the men stayed for over 45 minutes.
The documents don't say why the men showed up at the student's home, but the mother says they crossed the line in their actions.
Bouldin First Degree Upgrade by cullmansense
Stephens First Degree Upgrade by cullmansense
More:
http://www.cullmansense.com:8080/articles/2016/04/28/judge-case-against-chs-principal-recuses-himself
http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2016/04/25/outpouring-public-support-chs-principal-vice-principal
http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2016/04/21/update-chs-principal-bouldin-and-assistant-principal-stephens-placed
http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2016/04/20/cullman-high-school-principal-and-assistant-principal-arrested-trespassing
