Teacher Sex Trial Starts

By Debbie Williams Reporter

A jury has been seated in the case of Neal Newton, the Baldwin County teacher accused of soliciting sex with a student.

Published: Mon, April 07, 2008 - 6:20 pm
Last Updated: Fri, April 11, 2008 - 11:20 am

Debbie Williams

A jury has been seated in the case of Neal Newton, the Baldwin County teacher accused of soliciting sex with a student. A shocking case when it came out two years ago and no less disturbing now, but is it true? It will be up to a jury to decide.
Neal Newton, a teacher at J. Larry Newton School and by all accounts a very popular teacher is charged with enticing a child for sex, soliciting and interfering with custody.
It all started int he summer of 2006 according to prosecutors, a 14 year old student, described as "troubled" went to his favorite teacher for help.
Prosecutors say Newton's actions may have started as help, but turned criminal and his actions point to an attraction to this student.
They say he had inappropriate conversations and contact with the teenager, providing him with a cell phone, sneaking him out of his house and say messages on an Internet website will back up their claims.
Meanwhile, Newtons attorney agrees the two did things together and communicated on the computer but she says it was an effort to help the teenager who was struggling at home and at school.
According to the defense, Newton called five different agencies to help the alleged victim without any result. She says her client may have used poor judgement but he did nothing criminal.
The mother of the boy spent most of Monday afternoon on the stand. She says her son is doing much better now that he has moved away from Fairhope. Prosecutors expect to wrap up their case Tuesday.