Former Fannin Middle School Teacher Nets Plea Deal for 2018 Incident With Student

What does it say about the world we live in when we must report stories of teachers behaving badly? We have witnessed too many of these incidents come to light in recent years.

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Our children should be safe at school, they should be safe with their teachers.  No matter how many background checks a school can do on any person, some bad apples fall through the cracks, and we end up with students getting hurt and lists of teachers behaving badly.

James Anderson, an educator at Fannin Middle School was arrested on two counts of indecency with a child for two incidents dated November 2018 and January 2019.

He was arrested and booked on June 29, 2021 on two counts of indecency with a child sexual conduct. He was released later that day.

Anderson, who taught P.E., history and geography classes at the middle school was suspended by administration prior to his arrest.

What was the Verdict?

On Tuesday, October 29th, James Anderson pleaded guilty to an improper relationship between an educator and a student.

Anderson initially faced two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His plea agreement dismissed the two indecency charges and re-indicted him on a felony charge of improper relationship between educator and student and given 10 years deferred adjudication along with a $1,000 fine.

What is deferred adjudication?

He will be required to meet the terms of probation as set forth in the agreement. If he were to violate the terms of his deferred adjudication probation, a judge will have the option to adjudicate guilt and sentence Anderson to a prison term.

Anderson voluntarily surrendered his teaching certificate.