School Board Attorney Recounts Events After The December Attack on a Student in Gatlinburg

Hamilton county District attorney general Neal Pinkston has been involved at every level of the local investigation, and his office is even affecting the next steps for the Hamilton county school board.

SCOTT BENNETT, SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY “He impressed on me that the investigation was not done. He also said he was very concerned that the witnesses were starting to change their version of the events.”

Attorney Scott Bennett was recalling the day he spoke with Gatlinburg Detective Rodney Burns by phone about the sexual assault case. That was on January 4th, and Bennett tells us he advised the superintendent and school board that Burns says there was an order from the judge.

BENNETT “In that context he said the judge in the case directed everybody to have no comment.”

Local school administrators hesitated several days before discussing the case with parents and the public.
On another subject, Bennett says the school board is not likely to change the basic policies for reporting hazing, abuse and assault among students.

BENNETT “Going back to the events of Monday, I think one of the things that was a surprise to a lot of people is that the DCS apparently does not view the incident at Gatlinburg as a reportable offense–because they don’t see the peer on peer violence the same way the school system does.”

The Gatlinburg police told Bennett they had reported the case to the Department of Children’s Services.
The local school board’s policy, as written, is already broader than DCS, according to Bennett.
Three Ooltewah high coaches are facing a possible grand jury indictment for supposedly not reporting the Gatlinburg incident fast enough.

SCOTT BENNETT “We take no position on who’s right or wrong. We are going to sit back as has been by General Pinkston let him do his work and wind down to a conclusion.”

On dealing with the attack on the student, and possibly 3 others students the attorney points out the school board only wanted to get basic information in that case to deal with disciplinary action if it became necessary.

Scott Bennett was in Nashville today representing the district in testimony about the BEP funding.