Latest teacher sex case - Toni Lynn Woods [View All]

[paineinthearse]

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=1319

Teacher Sex Case Shocks Braxton County
Posted 3/4/2005 05:00 PM

Toni Woods admitted having sexual contact with five middle school students, State Police said.

Story by Elaine Tampoya

Braxton County residents said they were shocked and disappointed after a middle school teacher was accused of sexually assaulting five of her students. Toni Lynn Woods, 37, remained in the in the Central Regional Jail in Sutton Friday on $100,000 bond. The Strange Creek woman faces eight counts of third-degree sexual assault. State Police said Woods admitted to having sexual intercourse with three of her students and oral sex with two others.

The charges are a shock to a community that Woods has called home all of her life. "I think it's pretty crazy being a teacher and all," said Braxton County resident Ryan Dusenberry. "She taught my sister. She taught my cousins and all that." Mary Collins of Nicholas County called the allegations sickening. "It's awful that we can't send our children to school and be safe and worry about an adult taking advantage of a situation," Collins said.

One resident, though, wanted to remind people that there are more victims than those who allegedly were assaulted. "Im not saying it was right and I think there are definitely issues that are very deep that need to be worked out," said Braxton County resident Amy Carr. " I'm not trying to slight the children that were affected by this, but I just want everyone to know realize that she has two children of her own that are also affected by this."

The students claimed the assaults began at the beginning of the school year and ended just last week. Woods has resigned from her teaching job and turned in her teaching certificate. The story attracted worldwide attention after a link to our coverage appeared on the Drudge Report, a popular news and gossip Web site. In the past 24 hours, more than a half-million people have seen the story online.


Photo Credit: West Virginia Regional Jail