NORCROSS, Ga. — A Gwinnett County teacher faced a judge Thursday on charges he sexually assaulted a former student.
The incident allegedly occurred at the new Summerour Middle School about three weeks ago. A former student, who is now in high school, came to visit her former teachers and says her former teacher, Jimmie Buckland, took advantage of her.
Buckland had very little to say as he went before a judge on the sexual assault and battery charges. A judge ordered him held without bond.
Buckland is accused of groping the former student in a classroom last month. In arrest warrants, police allege Buckland "made physical contact of a sexual nature while he was employed as a school teacher and the victim was a student, on school grounds during school hours.”
Gwinnett County schools spokesperson Sloan Roach told Channel 2’s Tony Thomas that Buckland resigned on Oct. 1.
School officials say the former student is now 16. Buckland had been a teacher for five years helping create classes called the Junior Leadership Corps. Before that, he spent 20 years in the military.
“We want to make sure the police are involved because we have a very special relationship, our teachers do with our students, and we want to make sure that's not being taken advantage of in any way,” Roach said.
Summerour parents were given a letter last week saying Buckland had resigned. It did not mention the allegations or criminal case.
Buckland’s attorney told Thomas on Thursday that his client was surprised by the charges and denies everything.
“He's known the girl for a number of years, he mentored her,” Eric Crawford said. “It's just not what she said it was. He essentially tried to help her out.”
Crawford told Thomas he expects the most serious felony charge, sexual assault, to be dropped. Crawford says the student was a former student, now 16. She didn’t go to Summerour and was not a current student as the arrest report said. Therefore, he says the charge doesn't apply.
“Our contention is that they don't have one of the essential elements they need for the offense,” he said.
Buckland and his attorney will have a chance to make their argument when they head back to court next Friday.