Posted on Thu, Jul. 07, 2005 Teacher arrested Hannan teacher says assault charges a setup BY MARK RICE Staff Writer David Timothy Seckinger, Hannan Elementary School's music teacher, won't be at the school today when it starts the 2005-06 year as one of Muscogee County School District's seven year-round schools. Seckinger, a 27-year employee in the district, was arrested Saturday at his North Dixon Drive home and charged with aggravated assault and making terroristic threats to Sue Turner, 49, who told police they live together. At 2:15 p.m. Friday, Turner came to the Columbus Police Department to file a report of family violence, according to a police report. She said she had been physically beaten and verbally threatened by her live-in boyfriend, whom she named as Seckinger. The police report states his age as 52, but the school district's personnel database lists him as 51. Turner had bruises on her face, upper body and back, the report states. Don Cooper, the school district's chief human resources officer, said Wednesday he told Seckinger on Tuesday not to be at school until the investigation is finished, but he will continue to receive his $59,000 salary. Seckinger spent two days in the Muscogee County Jail before being released Monday on bonds totalling $15,000. A state law that went into effect in July 2000 requires public school districts to complete criminal background checks on personnel every five years or when they are recertified. Seckinger's most recent check was done in 2002 and came back clean, Cooper said. "We have received no information since then to have any reason to question his conduct," Cooper said. "The best we can tell, his performance indicates he has been a good teacher." Hannan principal Ann Robison declined to comment about Seckinger. Reached on his cell phone, Seckinger denied the charges. He called the terroristic threats "completely false" and said Turner's bruises were "self-inflicted to see to it that I would never have visitation rights to my son again." Seckinger said he has known Turner for about eight months but isn't her boyfriend. He said he repeatedly has asked her to leave his home. Seckinger said Cooper has asked him to resign. "I will not resign," Seckinger said. Asked why Turner made the charges against him, Seckinger said, "Because I said I was not willing to marry her. This is a setup from an angry woman who wanted my money." Turner did not immediately return phone calls on Wednesday. Along with Hannan, Seckinger said he has taught at seven other schools in the district: Cusseta Road, Georgetown, Rigdon Road, the former Southern Junior High, Rigdon Road, St. Elmo and Wynnton. He said a representative from the Southern Association of Southern Schools, the district's accreditation organization, told him last year, "I have the best music program in the state." http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/12070520.htm |
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