PELL CITY — A school employee who was already facing a second-degree rape charge was arrested again Friday for allegedly selling drugs within 3 miles of an elementary school.St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said Anthony Eugene Tollison, 29, 1125 Old Coal City Road, Pell City, was arrested Friday on a two-count indictment.
He said Tollison was indicted for the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance near a school campus.
Tollison was also indicted in July 2007 for the second-degree rape of a juvenile female who was younger than 16 but older than 12.
Authorities say the alleged rape did not occur on school grounds.
Tollison was a high school teacher’s aide for special education students at Pell City High before his first arrest in 2007. After his arrest, Tollison was not fired but transferred to the School System’s maintenance shop, away from students.
“We will follow up with the legal people and take the appropriate action that we need to take in due course,” Schools Superintendent Bobby Hathcock said Friday afternoon. “We’ll take the action that’s in the best interest of the School System.”
Since his arrest in 2007, Tollison remained free on a $2,500 bond, but on Friday the District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to revoke Tollison’s bond, contending the defendant violated his bond agreement with the new indictment charges.
Minor said Circuit Court Judge Jim Hill approved the motion to revoke Tollison’s bond on Friday, and Tollison is being held at the St. Clair County Jail in Pell City without bond.
Minor said the drug transaction Tollison is charged with did not take place on school grounds.
“Anthony Eugene Tollison, whose name to the grand jury is otherwise unknown, did on or about August 3, 2007, unlawfully sell marihuana, a controlled substance, within three (3) miles of Iola Roberts Elementary School, an educational institution in this state. …” the grand jury indictment states.
Minor said it’s possible Tollison could have a bond revocation hearing next week.
He said all charges against Tollison are Class B felonies, and if convicted, Tollison could face two to 20 years in prison on each charge.
Tollison’s attorney, Beverly Barber, said her client is innocent of all charges, and the defense will request a drug test by the courts, proving her client does not use drugs.
“We intend to show this is an error,” Barber said. “We deny he uses or has any association with drugs.”
