Dallas Criminal Lawyers

Husband of Kendale teacher accused of having sex with students stands up for her

Saturday, May 21st, 2011

The husband of Kendale teacher accused of having sex with 5 of the school’s students boldly voiced support for his wife Thursday.

With a forlorn Britnni Nicole Colleps standing a few feet behind him, Christopher Colleps said he remained committed to his wife of seven years.

“I loved her since the moment I layed eyes on her over 11 years ago and I will always love her,” Christopher Colleps said, reading from a prepared statement. “I have always supported her, and I will continue to support my wife throughout this entire ordeal. I hope that you will not pass judgement on her because you dont know all of the facts or details according to this situation.”

Brittni Colleps, 27, faces five felony counts of having inappropriate relationship with a student. She is free on a $125,000 bond that Christopher Colleps paid after raising money from famiy and friends, her attorney said.

Police say the mother of three had sex in April and May at her Arlington home with five students from the school, where she was a first year English teacher and coach of the freshman girls basketball team. Police say they have video tape of at least one encounter.

All five students were 18 years or older. At least one of them was a student in Colleps’ class. State law forbids sex between a teacher and any student at that teachers school, regardless of the age of the student.

Brittni Colleps was placed on leave with pay last week after after the allegations surfaced, but Kenndale ISD Superintendent Gary Dugger said Thursday that she had already turned in her resignation in March. He said that resignation was set to become official Friday- the last day of regular classes.

According to WFAA-TV (channel 8 ), one of the students and the mother of another student have said they have no desire to press charges against Colleps. The mother said she is praying that things “turn out for the best” for Colleps and her family.

Brittni Colleps did not speak during or after her husband’s two minute statement to media representatives at the Brookside Center in Hurst.

Christopher Colleps concluded by describing his wife as a “loving mother” who “continuously puts our children’s best interest before her own.”

The couple, accompanied by Brittni Colleps mother, did not take questions and left the center immediately after Christopher Colleps read his statement.

Lex Johnson, Brittni Colleps’ Hurst-based attorney, remained behind. He said Christopher Colleps, who is on active duty with the army and stationed in Louisiana, decided to speak out because he “wants everybody to know” that he supports his wife despite of the serious charges against her.

The lawyer also acknowledged that Arlington police searched the Colleps’ home Tuesday, but he would neither confirm or deny whether his client had sex with the students. He also declined to say what type of defense strategy he might use if Tarrant County prosecutors decide to accept the case.

Johnson said twice that there were “more important things going on around the world,” and urged the news to turn their attention to those issues rather than focusing on Brittni Colleps, who he said would have nothing to say about her case “for the foreseeable future.”

“At the present time, she is not saying anything,” the lawyer said. “Before she makes any statement, I want to have all the fats of the case, and I don’t have that yet.”

Posted in Criminal Defense, Dallas County Jail, Juvenile Defense, Sex Crime Defense | 1 Comment »

Teachers at Irving MacArthur, North Garland high schools accused of sexual contact with students

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Two North Texas high school teachers – one in Garland, the other in Irving – were arrested Wednesday, accused by police of having sexual affairs with students.

Christian Michael Flores, a science teacher and coach at North Garland High, was charged with one count of improper relationship between student and teacher and one count of indecency with a child after police say he confessed to having sexual contact with a female student four times.

April St. John Alexander, a former biology teacher at MacArthur High in Irving, was charged with one count of inappropriate relationship between student and teacher after police say she had sex with a male student more than 20 times during a three month period.

The arrests came only days after a Kendale High School teacher was accused by police of having sex with five students at her Arlington home.

“When we send our kids to school, we trust they are in safe hands and that it is a safe zone,” said Garland police spokesman Joe Harn. “When something like this happens, it violates that trust.”

Garland ISD spokesman Chris Moore said a student informed officials about Flores’ alleged inappropriate contact earlier this week and that the investigation was quickly turned over to police. When confronted by police, Flores confessed, according to an arrest affidavit.

Flores, 27, of Lavon told police that he started texting a student in Spring 2009. At the time, the girl was a 15 year old freshman, police said.

Flores said he then had sexual contact with the girl four times over the next two years, the most recent encounter in April or May of this year, at the girls home in Garland, police documents state.

Flores, who could not be reached for comment, has been a teacher at North Garland High since August 2006. He also helped coach the basketball and football teams.

Moore says Flores has been placed in administrative leave with pay.

In Irving, police say Alexander, a 26 year old from Halton city, started a relationship with a 16 year old student at MacArthur High in 2009.

The student, now 18, told police that he and the teacher had sex approximately 25 times – both at the school and Alexander’s car – from October to December of that year, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Irving police said they learned of the alleged relationship in March of this year, when they were investigating a separate but similar allegation against Alexander.

Alexander, who could not be reached for comment, taught at MacArthur from October 2008 until her resignation last November. Irving ISD spokesman Tony Tethford said Alexander did not explain why she was resigning.

Both Alexander and Flores were released from jail Thursday on bail.

Posted in Dallas County Jail, Juvenile Defense, Sex Crime Defense | 1 Comment »

Juvenile Criminal Law

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

AGE AFFECTING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY.

(a) A person may not be prosecuted for or convicted of any offense that the person committed when younger than 15 years of age except:

(1) perjury and aggravated perjury when it appears by proof that the person had sufficient discretion to understand the nature and obligation of an oath;

(2) a violation of a penal statute cognizable under Chapter 729, Transportation Code, except for conduct for which the person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment or confinement in jail;

(3) a violation of a motor vehicle traffic ordinance of an incorporated city or town in this state;

(4) a misdemeanor punishable by fine only;

(5) a violation of a penal ordinance of a political subdivision;

(6) a violation of a penal statute that is, or is a lesser included offense of, a capital felony, an aggravated controlled substance felony, or a felony of the first degree for which the person is transferred to the court under Section 54.02, Family Code, for prosecution if the person committed the offense when 14 years of age or older; or(7) a capital felony or an offense under Section 19.02 for which the person is transferred to the court under Section 54.02(j)(2)(A), Family Code.(b) Unless the juvenile court waives jurisdiction under Section 54.02, Family Code, and certifies the individual for criminal prosecution or the juvenile court has previously waived jurisdiction under that section and certified the individual for criminal prosecution, a person may not be prosecuted for or convicted of any offense committed before reaching 17 years of age except an offense described by Subsections (a)(1)-(5).(c) No person may, in any case, be punished by death for an offense committed while the person was younger than 18 years.

Tags: Juvenile Conviction, Juvenile Punishment
Posted in Juvenile Defense | No Comments »

Student Faces Threat Charge

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

Police say DA could upgrade misdemeanor case to a felony after arrestinga Plano East Senior High School student suspected of scrawling a bomb threat in a school restroom last week. Chase Clemmons of Richardson faces a terroristic threats charge, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. The district attorney’s office may enhance the charge to a felony Plano police report. Clemmons was arrested Monday and taken to Plano’s city jail. He was released on $2,500 bail. The restroom graffiti indicated taht someone would bring an explosive device to school on Tuesday.

Plano ISD administrators canceled Tuesday classes after they discovered a second bomb threat Monday afternoon. Plano police say the two threats appear similar but are unrelated. The distric has received bomb threts before but has rarely, if ever closed school because of them said Plano ISD spokeswoman. We want to use an abundance of caution because of these two threats.

Young Chase Clemmons is facing serious charges & both him and his parents need to consult with a Dallas criminal attorney before making any statements to the police or investigators. If found guilty this will limit Chase’s future education and employement opportunities.

Posted in Assault & Battery Defense, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Defense | No Comments »

Drug bust in West Dallas Brings Down Drug Ring

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

Promises of quick money and secret adventure and shrouded in intimidation easily lures Dallas juveniles who have watched teh dealing in their neighborhoods since birth. This was the case for the West Side Gator Boyz who dominated the Dallas drug trade. After a three year investigation, undercover agents, informants and a strong local plus federal cooperation a three year investigation resulted in the arrests and convictions of key members of the gang, including recent plea agreements from Gator Boyz leaders Tyrone Weatherall and his brother Patrick. One was sentenced to 30 years in prison and the other received 20 years.

There is a lot to be learned from this law enforcement success, particularly the importance of parents and other responsible adults in keeping malleable youngsters from falling prey to criminal influences. The Gator Boyz regularly recruit West Dallas kids to do their bidding. Many would like to believe that the Gator Boyz are finished, but Dallas police will be the first to bring attention to the fact that now a power struggle will consume the streets of West Dallas and the drug trade continues. If any member of the Gator Boyz need help from an experienced Dallas Criminal Attorney, contact me for immediate help.

Posted in Criminal Defense, Homicide Defense, Juvenile Defense | 1 Comment »

No Indictement In Wreck That Killed Two

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

A Collin County grand jury declined Thursday to indict a Plano teenager who was involved in a traffic accident that killed a McKinney couple in September. Antonio and Elisa Santos were riding a motorcylce on North Central Expressway near Renner Road at 2:15am. Ahead of them, Sterling A. Mitchell had stopped his pickup in the center lane. A car behind him stopped in to avoid crashing into the pickup, but the Santos motorcycle crashed into the car. Mitchell fled but later was arrested. The grand jury decided not to indict Mitchell on two counts of manslaughter.

Posted in Criminal Defense, Homicide Defense, Juvenile Defense | No Comments »

Lancaster Man Kills Intruder

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

A man in Lancaster, Texas shot and killed a 19 years old intruder in his kitchen Thursday. The shooting happened about 7pm when the 39 year old man arrived home in the 100 block of West Fourth Street. Soon after he entered the home, four or five gunshots were heard, witnesses said. It was unclear whether the intruder followed the man inside or was already there. David Franco ruiz was found in the kitchen with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. The homeowner didn’t know Ruiz has a relative in the neighborhood. Police said they don’t believe burglary was Ruiz’s motive. The case will be referred to a grand jury.

Posted in Criminal Defense, Homicide Defense, Juvenile Defense | No Comments »

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Archive for the ‘Juvenile Defense’ Category

Husband of Kendale teacher accused of having sex with students stands up for her

Teachers at Irving MacArthur, North Garland high schools accused of sexual contact with students

Juvenile Criminal Law

Student Faces Threat Charge

Drug bust in West Dallas Brings Down Drug Ring

No Indictement In Wreck That Killed Two

Lancaster Man Kills Intruder

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