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GoogleDawn Bobo was sentenced to 11 month, 29 days of probation, will have to forfeit the weapon and pay fines and court costs.
If Bobo successfully completes all the terms of the pre-trial diversion, the charge would be expunged from her record.
Pre-trial diversion is something that the state legislature grants to a person who has never had any kind of criminal conviction, with the exception of a Class "A" or "B" felony.
Defense attorney John Norton asserted last month that he and the state had agreed in principle to the pre-trial diversion, but a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) certification had to be attached to the memo of understanding before it could be made official.
According to Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Bobo claims she accidentally carried a .22 Ruger target pistol, which she kept for protection for coyotes while checking her rural mailbox, into Liberty School in December.
Bobo allegedly exclaimed she'd accidentally carried the gun into the building in her purse, then sent a student to School Resource Officer Robert Filer to inform him that she had the weapon.
According to Assistant District Attorney William Bottoms, based upon the officer's investigation, Bobo was charged with a Class "A" misdemeanor rather than a Class "E" felony, "because I don't think she went there with the intent to go armed."
"When she realized what she had done, she made the appropriate contact to the SRO (school resource officer), told him what she had done, was subsequently placed under arrest and taken into custody," Bottoms said.
However, no decision on when Bobo will return to the classroom will be announced until school superintendent Ed Gray returns from a conference next Monday.
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So what Bedford Co is telling us is if we do something wrong all we have to say is there was no intent that we should just get a slap on the wrist!!!What kind of bull is that?There is alot of crooks in Bedford co and most of them work in the court house!!!The TBI should have took over this and took the case to another co!!! So much for everyone elses rights!!!How many people have done less and got alot more than a slap?People who go up there for being poor get more than that!!!I bet I will boycot Bedford Co!!!If everyone who didnt like the way this was handled would do the same then we could show them who really runs the CO!!!!!!How many people have got more than what she did for a smaller charge?I can think of a bunch and I bet you can too!!!
Umm, since when do people go to court b/c they're poor? I'm not trying to be smart its a sincere question.....
and how do you boycott a county?
I find her excuse for having the gun in her purse in the first place to be lacking in credibility. I also live in a rural area and have yet to have a coyote challenge me for the contents of my mailbox.
According to this article, the TBI was involved and she was charged according to the law. I guess I don't see the other "People who go up there for being poor" written up in the paper so I don't know what they were charged with, or what their sentence was.
According to this article, the TBI was involved and she was charged according to the law. I guess I don't see the other "People who go up there for being poor" written up in the paper so I don't know what they were charged with, or what their sentence was.
-- Posted by nellie on Thu, Feb 7, 2008, at 11:54 AM
Sure nellie...here's what the article says :
"Defense attorney John Norton asserted last month that he and the state had agreed in principle to the pre-trial diversion, but a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) certification had to be attached to the memo of understanding before it could be made official."
All that means is that the circumstances of the case were sent to some desk jockey at the TBI for them to rubber stamp, that they knew this had occured...whew what a big investigation.
Furthermore this was reported: "According to Assistant District Attorney William Bottoms, based upon the officer's investigation, Bobo was charged with a Class "A" misdemeanor rather than a Class "E" felony, "because I don't think she went there with the intent to go armed."
The officer's investigation went something like this: "Dawn, why did you bring that gun to school? Bobo: Oh, I'm just so terrified by those coyotes, that want to steal the mail from my mailbox. Officer: Well Dawn I know you're a good ole girl, so I don't think you meant to do it...after all we've known each other since I've been the SRO at this school"...
I'm just SO sure this was a fair and impartial investigation. Whatever! I just hope the people that keep spouting off about what a great person she is and oh she was just the greatest teacher, when she was my teacher, are the same people that have children going to school where she teachs and hopefully their child will be in her class...then I'd love to hear how comfortable they are with her being in the classrooom.
Did you mean to say that there "are" a lot of crooks, and that the TBI should have "taken" over? Also, how many people do you know that have broken the law to such an extent that they have wound up in a court such as this?
The woman made a mistake and reported herself to the authorities. I think that alone is admirable. She set a great example for her students.
If you want to boycot the Co spend your money somewhere else other than Bedford CO.People that cant afford Mr Norton who get a public deffender is the poor people that are in jail.I had to go to court once there and was told I need a lawyer so I went and seen Haily Folts.She told me if I gave her a 1000.00 dollars that it would be settled with no jail time or probation.Well I thought since I had never been in trouble that they wouldnt do nothing but probation if I just used the public deffender.Boy was I wrong.Insted I got jail time and probation for a ck less than 150.00.So you tell me that its fair for anyone who has been arrested there!!!She did have intent for the gun she had.She said she had intened on shooting coyotes witch is pretty stupid.I have a name brand 22 pistol myself and dont think I could get close enough to shoot a coyote with it if I had to.So much for the intent!!!Now if you say people dont go to jail for being poor get in some trouble and let a public deffender be giving to you and see what happens.And another thing I was never offered a pre trial diversion cause I couldnt pay a real attorney.I had never been arrested before.And for the TBI being involed all their doing is just reading over what someone else has written down.And its going to be MR Norton who does the writting so dont you think everything has been buttered up just a little!!!
She set a great example for her students.
-- Posted by whatda on Thu, Feb 7, 2008, at 12:54 PM
Oh yeah she set a great example for her students. Bring your coyote shooting pistol to school kids. Nothing much will happen to you.
whatda?! that's what I'm thinking as in whatda frigging heck are you thinking making a statement like that.
JUSTICE IS DONE.TOO BAD COST AND FINE WAS NOT WAIVED.HOPE SHE GETS TO TEACH AGAIN.
Furthermore this was reported: "According to Assistant District Attorney William Bottoms, based upon the officer's investigation, Bobo was charged with a Class "A" misdemeanor rather than a Class "E" felony, "because I don't think she went there with the intent to go armed."
Are any of you familiar with the work ethics of this particular Assistant DA?
Guess somebody needs to get busy changing the signs posted on our school doors.
CARRYING A WEAPON ON SCHOOL PROPERTY IS A OK...BRING 'EM ON IN.
To anyone with an open mind:
I don't know Dawn Bobo. However, I do know that mistakes and oversights can be made. We are human, after all. Have you ever done anything you regretted? I know I have. Did you ever stop to think that if she had intended on using the weapon at school to harm someone, that perhaps she wouldn't have turned herself in? Come on. Think about it. Sometimes zero tolerance can go a bit too far and I'm glad Ms. Bobo had the decency to report what she knew was against policy to someone in authority. Yes, she should be accountable to some extent--perhaps in her job performance evaluation--but to bash her for being honest is a real shame. What have we become?
"When she realized what she had done, she made the appropriate contact to the SRO (school resource officer), told him what she had done, was subsequently placed under arrest and taken into custody," Bottoms said.
Wait, I thought it had already been reported that she was NOT arrested or taken into custody, and that she just received a summons? Somebody's lying.
Richard,
Aside from what Ms. Bobo did or didnt intended to do, it all goes back to the court system. I was in court with someone else and saw the other persons lawyer go pick up the papers off the table by the Judge (not supposed to do that) and hand pick a certain (wont say who) Assistant DA. Now if I were a lawyer and needed a favor or wanted someone threw under the bus, I'd pick that Assistant every time!!!
I still don't see the other "People who go up there for being poor" written up in the paper so I don't know what they were charged with, or what their sentence was. I would be more than glad to stick up for them. (not DUI,evading arrest,violating probation, assault, abuse, etc...all the things that I do see as being legitimate charges) Oh yea, the DA doesn't make the law--I believe that is State and it also goes back to who you voted for! I have had my say about it and the law that we have allowed to be passed has been addressed and if you don't like, do something to change it--besides griping about it.
Guess somebody needs to get busy changing the signs posted on our school doors.
CARRYING A WEAPON ON SCHOOL PROPERTY IS A OK...BRING 'EM ON IN.
-- Posted by ontheoutside on Thu, Feb 7, 2008, at 4:15 PM
That is so true... The law is the law, nobody should receive special treatment. Not me, not anyone! I don't think she should be in jail, but my goodness, she needs some sord of retribution for this "mistake"...
B/c the more "mistakes" you let slip by, only leads to the tragedy that could have been prevented!!!
Everyone makes mistakes, she tried to rectify hers. She could have just hidden the gun and got by with it. She has suffered enough, too much really. Let her go on with her life and realize she has a lot to offer. Let whoever has no sin cast the first stone.
i think ms bobo got off with a slap on the wrist.here in bedford county if you can afford john norton you can buy your way out of murder i no that for a fact.first time offenders that are poor have to do jail time and fines that they dont have the money to pay.
I still don't understand what all the fuss is about, this lady made an honest mistake-and then tried to correct it the right way. I guess now she wishes she had just taken the gun back to her car and not said anything to anyone. I can't understand her carrying a pistol in the world we live in now.
Honest mistakes sometimes become preventable tragedies.
If she wasn't well known and/or respected, or let's say she was a student, who used the very same excuse, would everyone be lenient?
She's not guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime, she is however guilty of bringing a weapon onto a state campus, which is ILLEGAL!
That's the issue I am "up in arms" about [no pun intended]... If it had been anyone else would we even be having this discussion?
Furthermore this was reported: "According to Assistant District Attorney William Bottoms, based upon the officer's investigation, Bobo was charged with a Class "A" misdemeanor rather than a Class "E" felony, "because I don't think she went there with the intent to go armed."
Are any of you familiar with the work ethics of this particular Assistant DA?
-- Posted by Disgusted on Thu, Feb 7, 2008, at 3:53 PM
Nope I've never heard of him but I am listening :>)
Whatda,
You are wasting your time. Certain regulars to this forum want blood in this case and will not be happy until a good person who made an honest mistake and admitted the mistake is left jobless, broke, and psychologically damaged forever from it. I only hope when they do make a terrible mistake people are more forgiving of their transgression! I could understand the demand for justice if it were a bad person or a repeat offender, but jeez....
As for the lizardoo guy who wrote the bad check... I don't think your case was handled correctly given the facts that you provided. I do feel that Mrs. Bobo's case WAS handled as it should of been. Would it make you feel better if she had been treated unjustly also? I don't think that would change your situation any.
Well, I'm just one of "those people" who will spout off that I've known Dawn for several years....and yes, I totally believe her statement regarding her reasons for having the gun in her possession. I don't believe there is one bone in her body that would intentionally place any child at that school in harm's way under any circumstances. She needs to be left alone and allowed to get on with her life and back to the school teaching. And no, I don't have any children who will be in her classroom but I wouldn't be worried she would shoot them if I did. She's a good Christian woman and I pray that her faith will get her through this time and keep her strong from all the bashing she's had to deal with from her own community "friends".
Amen! The Lynch mob mentality that many have exhibited in this discussion only proves to me that they truly do not know Dawn! I wonder if a person close and dear to these same people made a dumb mistake like this whether or not they'd be as demanding for retribution. My guess is no.
You people defending Ms. Bobo are still missing the point! It is not really trully about her It is the way the syatem handled it because of who she is! Not everyone would have been given the same respect if they were involved in the exact same incident!
GET RID OF ALL THE CROOKS IN THE COURTHOUSE & THE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE CROOKED (JUST ABOUT ALL) GET THEM OUT AND QUIT CRYING OVER SPILLED MILK! YOU GET OFF YOUR "BUTT" AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SYSTEM!
Mike Molder in my opinion, as I have stated many times it is you and others on here that know Dawn Bobo, that think just because you know her, know about her faith and all the other reasons that others defend her actions, should be the reason she should get treated differently. In fact she was treated differently for that very reason. The SRO had known her at least as long as he had been SRO at that school.
If an officer that did not know her was to have been presented this case I believe it would have went down much differently. That's one of the things that has me and others so aggravated by this case.
So many things were overlooked or rather swept under the rug. The fact that no one has ever confirmed if she does or does not have a gun carry permit, which would be another charge, if she does not, which I believe is the case or why would they say they were unsure...come on you know better than that and it does not matter what her intent was for that charge. You either have the permit or you don't and the police don't seem to have any problem finding out if others have a carry permit. They have no problem charging them either.
The whole point is there are many people that are good people that wind up on the wrong side of the law at some point in their life. That does not make them bad people and I do agree that people that are not repeat offenders should be given a break, but that break should come after an arrest that is impartial, where the person is treated like anyone else, regardless if the cop knows them or not. After that the courts take over and that's when the break should come. Not at the beginning, when the officer first charges someone with the least serious offense, decides that the person does not need to go through the booking process, is issued a summons, instead of having to post bond, when most people have to go through booking and post bond for less serious offenses, not involving a gun and also a lower class misdemeanor, then the jail officials decide not to release her name in the jail intake, even though others , which receive summons are listed there.
OK Mike, so after all that I've mentioned are you and others going to tell me that this case was treated impartially and fairly on the front end? I don't believe you are that dumb and you know it is not right. Wouldn't you be upset if someone you knew to be a good person got arrested and just because the officer did not know them and charged them to the fullest extent and then someone else gets all the breaks I've mentioned just because the officer knows them and that person gets off easy on the front end? If you tell me it would not upset you, then I would have to say you either have the patience of the Pope or you are a liar.
Now I will say that I do believe Ms. Bobo was treated like everyone else in court or at least everyone else that can afford to hire a good attorney. I have a little more understanding with that part and I think the sentence was proper. I do have a problem on if she should be allowed back teaching class. At least not initially. I think there should be some type of disciplinary action, which includes some checking into her present mental stability before she is allowed to be teaching again. In the mean time they should find her something out of the classroom.
You people that know her, well that's fine if you are so sure she should be teaching, but what about the people that don't and they pay taxes for schools also and if their kids are in that school district is it fair that they have to be concerned about their kids? Come on we are talking about people's kids and they deserve to know that the school officials are watching out for their kids...not watching out for the teacher, that has had a problem occur in the classroom.
Now after all I have written and if you still don't understand why so many people are upset by this and you just want to believe that those of us upset only "want blood" then I either have to believe you are being dishonest with yourself, with dishonest everyone else or you are just plain stupid.
Since you have chosen to address me personally yet still are not able to reveal who you are, I'll end the debate for you. I don't think I'm a stupid person. Some may agree with you about that, but I've managed to do okay with what God gave me. I'm definitely not a liar. It would be kind of stupid to post under your real name if you intended to post anything false on here. We are obviously not going to come to any type of middle ground on this, so I'll leave the debating to everyone else. Good Day.
Mike , it does not matter what my name is or if I choose to post my name or not. You don't know me and I don't know you. I seriously doubt if anyone on this forum knows me since I work out of my home mostly with people far away from here. Furthermore I am not originally from here, but I have been here long enough to know how things usually work in the criminal justice system. In my past my occupation was deeply involved with law enforcement and I'll leave it at that.
I noticed that you chose only to address issues not directly related to how Ms. Bobo's case was handled on the front end and I must say I expected you wouldn't debate me or anyone else that calls you or her other defenders out on why it's OK for her to be treated with kid gloves just because you and the arresting officer know her and it's entirely proper for those that are unknown by you or an arresting officer to be treated like most people that have been accused of a crime. I've already covered those points , so I won't go there again.
So anyway good day back to you and when the day does come, when someone else you know is arrested for some offense and they are treated like everyone else because they are unknown by the officer, then you can talk about how wrong it was for that person to be treated that way and perhaps you will finally understand a few of the reasons people on this forum are upset.
I have a child that was in her classroom several years ago and had him removed due to her behaviors with the class and then to find out he was back in her computer lab again this year. Now if she is allowed to return to Liberty and teach his grade again I will have him removed from her class again because I just don't trust that she will not lose control again and I would hate to find a (good)lawyer and sue her and the Board of Education and anyone else if my child is mentally, emotionally or physically hurt by this woman again.
I don't want "blood" as Mike posted, I just want her out of the classroom. I can relate all too well to kimb's statements. Unfortunately, I will probably be disappointed. I noted the story said "when" she will return to the classroom....not "if." Tenure strikes again! Those of you saying she needs to be back in the classroom obviously know nothing of her problematic history (understatement!) at Liberty. I hope parents converge on Liberty and the Board of Ed. and let the administration know how they feel about the return of this menace to the classroom. I am sickened to think my child will probably once again be exposed to her and my child is a wreck, still not having recovered from the last experience.
I have not read one post on here where the poster states that they have a child at Liberty and that they hope Ms. Bobo is allowed to return to teaching.
Does any one else find that odd? How about you Mike? Linda Faye? whatda?
I have been reading these comments since this all started. I have been a friend of the Bobo family for my entire life.And have tried to keep my comments to myself regaurding Dawn. She has pulled more stunts than Mr.Norton ever has so finally she did something that made sense by her choice in lawyers.Maybe she didnt have any harmful intentions but she did want attention as always.Ithink the punishment was fair,although if we wanted to really punish people in jail maybe she should do 48 hours i bet whoever bunked with her would not be back!! As for her ability to teach she needs to stick to swimming lessons.My children had her for 4th grade what a nightmare.
She has been along time problem at liberty the school board just needs to ask for her complaint file and consider her latest disaster and let the parents of liberty school know whats going on. as for her family this has been terrible im sure.
But the Bobos need to be left out of it.
and as for me im not surprised at anything she does.I have always related her disasters to an old saying [What goes around comes around] and hers has come.these comments are in memory of a very good friend of mine ,we miss u Wanda Baker Bobo Pugh
1
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I think what she got is fair. However she should not be allowed back in a classroom. My child attends liberty school and if assigned her in the upcoming future, i will have no problem sharing my name with whomever to have her removed from Bobo's class. MIKE I choose not to publish my name because I know my daughter would reap the benefits of my opinions. People can say what they want about me but when it comes to my child, her future, or her education, trust me,no one wants to deprive her or mistreat her. I know LOTS of parents who have had their children in Mrs. Bozo's class, some have had a good experience, MOST have not. I am glad your's was a good one, but the fact remains she is absent minded or she would have never forgotten a pistol in her purse. The statement at the bottom of this story says WHEN SHE WILL RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM not if, and that in itself is a great unjust action. Would the Bedford County School board hire a new teacher with this on their record? I think/hope not. So why let her come back. She should be allowed to work in the office of the BCBE but now in a school.
Ed Gray if you are reading this Please protect our children and doo what is right for them. You were my principal at Community for one year and I know you will do what is right.
picmoma? Do you have kids at liberty? If not shut up. You have no right dictating who teaches our kids there. All you people ever wanna do is act like she did no wrong when in fact she is absent minded and we as Parents of liberty don't want the witch back. Why not hire Daryl Holton ah wait he was executed for what he did to kids with a gun.......... She got no jail time and only probation. Isn't that enough for her. I think she should NEVER be allowed to teach again unles it is a GED class at the Bedford County Jail because they can defend themselves, our kids can't. I am sure she meant no harm to the children but she is absent minded enough to bring a gun to school. What if she hadn't remembered and went to stand in the hallway to Talk to the other teachers as they all do and a child walking by her purse says "Look what I found" BANG BANG BANG. A child dead because she FORGOT it was there.
First, for the people who are still hung up on the sign. The one I read stated only the maximum penalty. It did not state any and all would be prosecuted.
Second, I truly feel that if you are a parent who believes this teacher to be such a danger, then you need to pursue the proper procedure with documentation of all these incidents(principal,superintendent,school board, state). If all you do is take your child from that class, then you are not as concerned as you claim.
I really have no dog in this fight, but then again I do. As a concerned citizen, just because I don't have kids, doesn't mean I shouldn't care.
Anytime a horrible crime happens, the FIRST thing they start doing is looking into the recent activities and the foggy past of the suspects. The victim's families often find themselves asking, "how could we have missed the warning signs?"... Well, this is a classic example of the alarm clock you hate to hear in the morning. If you don't pay attention to it, you can sleep through everything, but if you actually wake up and turn the alarm off you can get onto your day smoothly. We don't want that alarm clock to turn into sirens rushing to any school in Bedford Co. simply because we slept through all the signs!
The thing that really amazes me that so many people responding have had other issues with Mrs. Bobo. Just out of curiosity, not being rude, why would you not take these issues up with the school board or principal? I am glad to know she made sure the gun was removed. I am not sure if her sentence was fair, but have to wonder if zero tolerence is the same for a teacher. If a student left thier rifle, by accident, in their vehicle they would not be let back into school becuse they had a weapon on school property. That kid was probably not going to hurt anyone either, just forgot it after a weekend of hunting. And I wonder what kind of charges that student would have faced? Maybe not any but I am still curious. I would like to think Mrs. Bobo is truley sorry for her actions. I wish all of the parents at Liberty the best of luck and hope you can some satisfaction with the situation.
friendofafriend - I think there is a lot of truth in your comment 'I have always related her disasters to an old saying - What goes around comes around - and hers has come'.
I was always taught that we don't have to punish the people who have mistreated us or mistreated the ones we love so dearly because they will self destruct in the end. Those that 'choose' to hurt others end up hurt, often times more so than the hurt they have inflicted. This latest 'disaster' only proves to me there is truth in that statement.
After thinking about the legal consequences in this case, I do not beleive she will be allowed to return to a classroom where she is responsible for children.
No one knows for sure her frame of mind or what will result from another 'disaster'. I think the school system will consider the price it will pay is she does return and one child even receives so much as a scratch while under her supervision.
Her mistake, even though it may seem innocent now, would cost millions if she had another lapse in judgement and injured a student...even if by accident or with no intent the school system would be liable if they allow her to return.
I don't think there is enough free time in the Superintendent's or Principal's schedules to be monitoring her and making sure nothing bad happens every minute she is in the classroom. They have more important things to do.
lizardoo who ever you are, I hope that you or your family never have to deal with the burdens that Mrs. Bobo's family must be going through now. If having a husband walk out and give up on his wife and his children isn't enough. Mrs.Bobo has dealt with people starting a fire at her house, a private investigator following her everywhere she goes (I guess her husband had nothing he could use for a good enough reason of the divorce he wanted),and then on top of it people like you that don't even know the truth trying to destroy her. I know Mrs.Bobo and the only places she goes is to church ever time the door is open, her parents house or her son's so she can spend time with him and his family. She now has to grab tight to her faith, family, and friends because that is all she has.
Lizardoo- Have you noticed that I continue to call her (Mrs).Bobo. Think about it for a minute. She went to court because of her mistake and was told to go back to school and do her job, but something happened and she still is not back. The judge said that she must pay court cost and be on probation as her punishment.(If all of this hasn't been enough!!)Her divorce from her cheating husband is still not over because she now does not have a job so she cannot pay her husband since he had an affair. It is crazy Lizardoo that you think she has not been through enough. Could you imagine having someone like yourself trying to use you to make a point of how a county is not run well. You don't even care that you are destroying a human's life and their family's life. I know that Mrs.Bobo had no intent to harm anyone. She notified the right person right when she found it and her main goal was to get the gun out of her room and away from her students so an accident wouldn't happen. Why do you want to destroy a person that was more concerned with her student's safety? Lastly until you people go and stay at Mrs.Bobo's home I don't think you can say how it is or if wild animals come near. Her home is surrounded by farm land. I have known the family for a very long time and have been to their home. I don't question her reason one minute. I will not throw stones at a human that has her entire life tried to teach our children and show the world God's gift that he wants all of us to take. God please be with Mrs.Bobo and her son, daughter, and parents. Please give them strength because this is the work of the devil.
As for you Lizardoo I hope that you can ask God to come in your heart and cleanse you and sins.
Mrs.Bobo thank you for leading me to the Lord. You don't know what you have done for me and my life. Stay stronge.
I am also sorry it has taken me so long to post something.
Lord Help Us All,
It has been my experience that there are always two sides to every story and it is obvious you have only heard one. So goes for everyone who has placed comments on this blog. The bible says "Judge not lest ye be judged." If you are not a party to this divorce, how do you know that Mr. Bobo cheated on his wife? Were you the other party? I know both parties and I have chosen to keep my opinions to myself, until your misplaced comments showed up here. If you don't know the whole story, don't offer up your opinions. I think that is also in the Bible. Pray for both parties if you want to do something productive.