Crafting A Case

     A fired Chickamauga teacher heads to court Monday afternoon to begin a legal process she calls very flawed. Tonya Craft talked with us earlier this week about molestation accusations she calls "false."

     This case is shaping up to be a very adversarial battle, starting with this Monday's motions hearing.This case has been back and forth with charges of witness tampering, improper gamesmanship and withholding evidence. Following are some points we have yet to publish, they were made before Wednesday's gag order.

    "I'm going to fight for my innocence," Craft said this past Monday evening. Her defiance to the accusations was evident in her voice and determination to fight. In ten days, she must face 22 child molestation charges.

    But mid-week this highly charged case grew silent. Judge Brian House slapped down a gag order silencing every person connected to this case.

    Before that action, NewsChannel 9 asked the fired Chickamauga Elementary teacher if she would take a plea to any lesser charge. Craft immediately responded, "Absolutely not. I have done nothing. And I have done absolutely nothing wrong."

    NewsChannel 9 also spoke with the prosecution before the gag order.They hold the same passion but skewed toward Craft's guilt. Prosecutor Chris Arnt said Craft's attorneys are publicizing their client's passage of a polygraph for strategical trial reasons,  "That's why her lawyers have been out in the media discussing inadmissible evidence. Those are just dirty lawyer tricks," Arnt said.

    Her trial happens in Ringgold because investigators say she violated the three young girls inside her Catoosa County home back in 2008. But this kindergarten teacher says detectives haven't played fair. Craft said, "I have been interviewed by no one from Catoosa County."

    Investigators dispute that and the state adds her side has taken the gloves off. The prosecutor described it as the worst case he has seen in almost 20 years. Arnt elaborated (before the gag order issuance,) "I have never in all that time seen the kind of harassment and intimidation that has been applied to victim's families, to witnesses in this case, people that have been followed home, to their jobs, out to restaurants."

The strain has gone both ways. Craft used two words to describe what the last 21 months have been like, "Devastation, heartbreak." At times, it's an ordeal too tough for her father Tony Faires to talk about. Certain questios brought tearful emotions. Her mother, Betty Faires explained the strain this past Monday evening, "It's been a trying situation, that you would never dream in your whole life would ever happen." 

    Her father was troubled by what he called a mean spirit, "I just can't believe that the people are so cruel and wanting to go forward so fast and so hard, knowing it's not true," Tony Faires said in the same Monday evening setting (before the Wednesday gag order.)

    Because of this gag order in this case no one can talk about it. But a look at the four inch thick case file foreshadows the tone to expect in this trial. For example, the state accuses Craft's side of "ridiculous conspiracy theories."

   But Craft wants everyone following this story to understand why her defense has been so zealous. "There's an absolute hysteria when you hear the word child molestation. And nobody questions if it's true or not."

    The exact question the jury will answer in Tonya Craft's trial. But the first order of business is multiple motions. That includes recusal of the judge, prosecutor, continuance and even a change of venue must be heard this Monday.

   NewsChannel 9 has filed a camera request for the motions hearing and trial so you can follow this. Judge Brian House will make that decision.