PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The mother of a Tate High School student accused of illegally accessing and using student information to help her daughter win homecoming queen is set for trial on Jan. 31.
Laura Carroll appeared in court Thursday morning.
Carroll’s attorney asked for a continuance, but the judge denied it. Carroll and her attorney argued they haven't seen information from Google accounts and Verizon records.
The state says they offered Carroll a plea deal, which would dismiss two felonies and have her plead guilty to probation on the third, as well as guilty to the misdemeanor. But she turned it down.
In March 2021, FDLE agents arrested Laura Carroll, 50, and her 17-year-old daughter Emily Grover on:
- one count each of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices (a 3rd-degree felony)
- unlawful use of a two-way communications device (a 3rd-degree felony)
- criminal use of personally identifiable information (a 3rd-degree felony)
- conspiracy to commit these offenses (a 1st-degree misdemeanor)
Laura Carroll had been working as Assistant Principal at Bellview Elementary School at the time.
Emily Grover received a pre-trial diversion earlier this month.
It moves her from criminal court into a supervised program. If she completes the program, her charges will be dismissed.
Jury selection will begin Laura Carroll's trial on Jan. 31. If convicted, the judge says Laura Carroll could face up to 16 years in prison.
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