Post by WaTcHeR on May 16, 2006 9:41:44 GMT -5
05/16/2006 - HENRY COUNTY -- A Henry County high school student is facing criminal charges after posting comments about his teacher on the Web site, MySpace.com. It was supposed to be a joke, but the student’s teacher was so offended, he filed defamation of character charges against the student – and another student may also be facing charges.
The teacher who is pursuing the charges hasn’t returned our calls for a comment. But Channel 2 spoke to one of the students charged, and he says it was only a prank.
“Coffee and Diet Coke – that was the name of the Web site,” said Alex Davis, 15, about a posting on the popular and sometimes controversial web site MySpace.com.
“He used to drink a lot of coffee and Diet Coke,” Davis said about an Eagle’s Landing High School science teacher which now has Davis facing criminal defamation of character charges. Davis' father said the charges are a waste of the court’s time.
“This has all gotten kinda bizarre,” Andy Davis said.
Teacher Robert Muzzillo pursued the charges against Alex and another student after noticing a profile with his name attached on MySpace.com. The profile talks about Muzzillo liking Michael Jackson and having a “gay old time,” like the Fred Flintstone song.
Davis said he only wrote that Muzzillo lost an eye wrestling with alligators and midgets.
When the school found out that Davis was involved, he received three days in-school suspension. Then he learned the teacher had filed charges against him.
“I have finals coming up and I have to study and instead I have to go to court,” Davis said.
The Davis’ have had to hire attorney, Lee Sexton. Sexton said, “No one’s committed a crime.”
“It’s just silly stuff about a teacher they were just joking about. It’s gotten way out of hand,” Sexton said.
Davis said he apologized and said he was only having fun and never threatened anyone.
“You can say whatever you want but it can get you in trouble,” he said.
Davis is scheduled to head to court next Tuesday. His attorney said the criminal defamation of character charge is unconstitutional.
The teacher who is pursuing the charges hasn’t returned our calls for a comment. But Channel 2 spoke to one of the students charged, and he says it was only a prank.
“Coffee and Diet Coke – that was the name of the Web site,” said Alex Davis, 15, about a posting on the popular and sometimes controversial web site MySpace.com.
“He used to drink a lot of coffee and Diet Coke,” Davis said about an Eagle’s Landing High School science teacher which now has Davis facing criminal defamation of character charges. Davis' father said the charges are a waste of the court’s time.
“This has all gotten kinda bizarre,” Andy Davis said.
Teacher Robert Muzzillo pursued the charges against Alex and another student after noticing a profile with his name attached on MySpace.com. The profile talks about Muzzillo liking Michael Jackson and having a “gay old time,” like the Fred Flintstone song.
Davis said he only wrote that Muzzillo lost an eye wrestling with alligators and midgets.
When the school found out that Davis was involved, he received three days in-school suspension. Then he learned the teacher had filed charges against him.
“I have finals coming up and I have to study and instead I have to go to court,” Davis said.
The Davis’ have had to hire attorney, Lee Sexton. Sexton said, “No one’s committed a crime.”
“It’s just silly stuff about a teacher they were just joking about. It’s gotten way out of hand,” Sexton said.
Davis said he apologized and said he was only having fun and never threatened anyone.
“You can say whatever you want but it can get you in trouble,” he said.
Davis is scheduled to head to court next Tuesday. His attorney said the criminal defamation of character charge is unconstitutional.