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TALLADEGA
COUNTY
Former TCCHS coach acquitted of rape
By Chris Norwood
04-22-2008
TALLADEGA COUNTY — A jury deliberated for about 3 hours Friday afternoon before acquitting former Talladega County Central High School teacher and head basketball coach Alvin Penez Taylor of one count of rape in the first degree.
Taylor was acquitted of sex abuse in the first degree by a jury in February 2006. In that case, defense attorney Clarence Dortch III argued the victim, who said Taylor had groped her at the school when she was 15 or 16, had fabricated the allegations after Taylor had her paddled for forging a hall pass.
The rape allegation, which was raised by a relative of the alleged victim in the first case, surfaced during the investigation of the sex abuse allegation.
Taylor was fired by the Talladega County Board of Education when the allegations surfaced in March 2005. Under Alabama’s tenure law, Taylor has the right to arbitration proceedings, which have been in limbo until the rape allegation was resolved.
Presumably, that process can get under way.
During the first trial, reference was made to allegations regarding inappropriate behavior on Taylor’s part in 1996, but the documentation could not be found and the jury was not allowed to hear this information.
The case was tried before Circuit Judge Bo Hollingsworth.
Across the hall, a jury in Circuit Judge Julian King’s courtroom convicted Everett O’Neal, 47, on one count of receiving stolen property in the first degree.
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About Chris Norwood
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Chris Norwood is a staff writer for The Daily Home.
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Contact Chris Norwood
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