Family members defended a suspended Hamilton County school teacher, as new details of his alleged sexual abuse of several students were revealed in court on Tuesday.
Sanders had a bond hearing Tuesday, and we were in court for it.
Nine family members and friends testified for Sanders.
Under repeated questioning from DA Wamp, multiple said they refuse to believe the allegations. Including former Hamilton County School Board member Donna Horn.
"I know this man. We have spent so many days together in the classroom. He has called me on the phone for help. I've gone to his schools to help him. And for that accusation to be true, I can't hardly believe that man sitting there could do that," said Horn.
Brenda Reid Brown with the Children’s Advocacy Center said they started interviewing students about the allegations against Sanders in March.
She said that 4 initial disclosures were made by students claiming they were inappropriately touched by Mr. Sanders. Each case took place between August to March.
Co-Detective Brian Lockhart says 12 students disclosed sexual abuse against them at Wallace A. Smith Elementary by former Teacher, Duane Sanders.
Lockhart said Duane Sanders would have a kid sit on his lap and that’s when he disclosed he would touch them inappropriately.
Sanders was asked which children he thought were making disclosures and he named a few of them that did.
Brown says she received similar accounts.
"'E' says Mr. Sanders touched him more than once, he would sit in Sanders lap. If you were 'good' you got to sit there," says Brown.
Lockhart said 19 children were in Sanders class in the 22-23 school year.
“This is what sex offenders do, they’re not going to sexually assault children that don’t like them. It’s called grooming,” says Hamilton County DA Coty Wamp.
Wamp asked for house arrest attached to any bond the court decides.
Wamp said in court that she has videos she hasn’t given to Sanders representation, Perry, because they mention names, but added that Perry will have all evidence by the end of the week to plan trial.
The defense argued that Sanders was the main breadwinner for his family and needed a low bond so he could provide for them.
But DA Wamp said Sanders is a flight risk given the severity of the crimes. She added that his friends and family having homes outside the state.
The court says bonds are set at $150,000 for every class A felony and $100,000 for every class B felony. The court says there are 10 counts.
Judge Barry Steelman reduced Sander's bond amount to $500,000 from $1.3 million.
The court ordered Sanders to be on pre-trial house arrest and he is now required to wear a GPS monitor.
The court also says he will have no contact with children other than his own biological children.
"That's just a tough situation for a judge to set a bond when you've got such serious allegations, but you've got to defend it who's presumed innocent," says Jonathan Turner.
Chattanooga attorney Jonathan Turner says even with a huge cut, he says it's still a high bond.
"He put a lot of other safeguards in place where if this person is released into the community, they'll have a very close off from the Hamilton County Probation Department, both from in person monitoring and through electronic monitor," says Turner.
Sanders faces 5 charges of sexual abuse of a minor, 4 counts of aggravated sexual battery and 1 count of aggravated child rape.
Sanders representation says Sanders has been suspended from the school system without pay since march 6th and has been in custody since march 21st, the day the indictment came out.
Sanders bond is currently set at 1.3 million dollars.
Before his suspension and arrest, Sanders taught first grade at Wallace A. Smith Elementary.
Online records show he worked or volunteered at 4 other Hamilton County Schools before that.
Sanders remains suspended from Hamilton County Schools pending the outcome of his case.
Depend on us to keep you posted.