By Joe Johnson
A Western Judicial Circuit judge recently ordered the removal of an ankle monitor
from a former Clarke County School District teacher who was arrested last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
Quinnesha Sha’Tara Turner, 25, was charged with aggravated child molestation, soliciting a minor for indecent purposes and sexual assault of a student, according to the indictment that was filed May 28, 2019 in Clarke County Superior Court.
The alleged victim is identified in court documents as a male under 16 years old.
When arrested on May 11, 2019 Turner was a science special education teacher at Hilsman Middle School, according to a spokesperson for the Clarke County School District. She resigned after her arrest.
The indictment alleges that Turner had sexual relations with the student at her home in Winterville.
Turner pleaded not guilty to all charges at her arraignment.
Her defense attorney, Ryan Swingle, would not discuss the case, other than to say, "“Que Turner is a solid person, athlete and citizen. She’s worked incredibly hard throughout her athletic and academic career,” Swingle said.The attorney added, “She would never intentionally hurt a child.” According to Swingle, Turner was a standout athlete at Cedar Shoals High School who went on to play basketball for Brenau University where she had a full-ride scholarship.
A month after her arrest, Turner was released from the Clarke County Jail upon posting a $38,700 property bond which had special conditions that she have no contact with the alleged victim or his family, was barred from all Clarke County School District property, had to wear an ankle monitor while under 24-hour house arrest, and regularly take all legally prescribed medicine,according to court records.
Swingle on Aug. 5 filed a motion to modify his client's bond conditions. The motion asked that the order to wear an ankle monitor be lifted because Turner had been in compliance with all other special conditions of bond.
Judge Lawton Stephens granted the motion on Aug. 26.