Friends come to the defense of Duane Sanders on day five of child sex abuse trial

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tuesday was day five of the Duane Sanders trial.

Sanders is charged with 15 child sex abuse charges against seven different children while he was a first grade teacher at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School in Ooltewah.

However, Tuesday was the defense’s turn to put on evidence.

They called up six character witnesses who all testified in defense of Duane Sanders.

Many of them had worked with Sanders in the past, as they testified that he previously managed several area McDonald’s before transitioning into teaching.

They described Sanders as a family oriented man, that he is married with five children who range in age from 12 to 25.

One of those, Sam Bolton, says he has known the former teacher for the past 25 years since he was seven years old

He said, “We didn’t have a proper nuclear family. In terms of a father figure if I could choose, I choose that man… I have been in many situations where any child could be in a vulnerable state. I’ve been alone with this man many times, never has he ever tried anything inappropriate in any manner. This man does not have that kind of mentality.”

 Throughout this trial, we have heard from seven children who have testified that child sexual abuse while sitting on Sanders’ lap inside of Wallace A. Smith Elementary School.            

Other long time friends also stated they did not believe Sanders is capable of this.

Lisa Stephens, who said she worked with Sanders, said, “Today I would leave my kids with him. I would trust him with my kids. 100%.”

However, none of these witnesses testified that they ever visited Sanders while he was teaching at Wallace A. Smith.

Additionally, the prosecution pressed some of the mothers who testified on when they would believe a child when they made these allegations.

One witness, Tina Teague, responded to this question from the prosecution, “I would question, only because kids at certain ages are so impressionable. I know there are times you have to 100% believe a child, and then there’s other times you have to take it with a grain of salt.”

Additionally, the defense brought Dr. Bradley Freeman, a forensic psychiatrist at Vanderbilt.

He testified that he has questions about the answers given by several children during their forensic interviews.

Dr. Freeman testified, “It seemed a little unrealistic that this happened the way they were describing… Frequency, positioning of how this may have occurred. The fact that there were a lot of kids that said, well no one else have seen anything going on.”

The prosecution in cross examination had Dr. Freeman admit that this is not his usual field, and that he does not normally testify in criminal trials.

The trial continues on Wednesday.