Tuesday, July 11, 2017

No bond reduction for former North Middle School teacher on sex charge, preliminary hearing set

Following a hearing this morning in Jasper County Circuit Court, Judge John Nicholas denied former North Middle School reading teacher Amanda Schweitzer's motion for reduced bond and set an 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, date for her preliminary hearing on a felony statutory rape charge.

Schweitzer, 37, Joplin, who is in the Jasper County Jail in lieu of a $40,000 surety bond plus $10,000 cash bond had sex with a 13-year-old student at her home, according to the probable cause statement. She also faces statutory rape, statutory sodomy and kidnapping charges in Newton County, for allegedly taking the same boy to the Water's Edge Camp Ground and having sex with him.

Schweitzer'a lawyer, Rebekah E. Wedick, argued that her client has been "harassed, beaten, and threatened by other inmates." In her bond reduction motion, Redick said Schweitzer has no prior felony or misdemeanor convictions and up until now has never had any problems with the law.

"Defendant has long suffered from depression and six months ago was treated for a major concussion. She voluntarily checked herself into (a) mental health treatment program prior to being arrested."

Redick notes that Schweitzer has "a stable place to go home to should she be granted a reasonable bond.

"Defendant's husband is more than willing to let her move back into the marital home. Defendant's husband is compassionate, involved and is supporting her throughout this despite the alleged circumstances."

The husband has a new job and is financially stable, Redick wrote, adding that her client would "happily comply with GPS monitoring or any other restrictions this court deems necessary."

Schweitzer was arrested during a Joplin Police Department investigation of allegations that Schweitzer sent nude photos of herself to three students, age 14, 14, and 13.

No comments: