A former high school chorus teacher was acquitted Wednesday of
criminal charges in connection with a suggestive dance routine
students performed in his classroom in 2008. Ending a two-day trial in Georgia's DeKalb County State Court, jurors
found Nathan Grigsby not guilty of five misdemeanor charges of
contributing to the depravation of a minor. Grigsby's supporters, who filled one side of the courtroom, erupted
into cheers outside after the verdict was read. "I'm very excited and glad to see justice prevailed," Grigsby said. "I
put my faith in God that the jury would see the truth, which is the
way I told it." No one disputed the sexual nature of the boys' dance routine, which
was captured by a student's cell phone on December 11, 2008 and posted
on Facebook. Instead, the controversy lay in whether the teacher bore criminal
responsibility for not stopping the routine sooner than he did, and
where to draw the line between teenage misbehavior and criminal acts. The 68-second video, which became the trial's centerpiece, showed the
three teens ripping off their shirts and simulating sex acts in front
of an audience of squealing female classmates. At one point, one of
the boys grabbed a girl and hoisted her up as she wrapped her legs
around his hips, while another boy gyrated in the face of a girl lying
on the ground. DeKalb County Solicitor General Robert James contended that Grigsby
did not do enough to stop the routine and condoned it by laughing and
clapping along with his students. James said he respected the jury's verdict but still believed that
Grigsby had committed a crime. Given the chance to do it again, the
prosecutor said he would still take the case to trial. "People need to understand that their conduct will not go unchecked,"
James told reporters. "This is an issue that needed addressing." Three of Grigsby's former students at the high school in suburban
Atlanta also face public indecency charges in connection with the
case. One of them testified in Grigsby's defense. James said Wednesday's verdict will not affect future proceedings
against the teens, all of whom have since graduated from Southwest
DeKalb High School. "You had young men simulate sex acts with young women in a classroom,"
he said. "I do think what they did in that classroom is wrong, and
they need to be held accountable." A student involved in the dance routine, Jerramy Barnett, now 19,
testified that Grigsby did not know about it ahead of time. He said
the teacher had his back to the students when he turned on the music. Barnett's parents and three brothers -- two of whom also testified for
the defense -- were among the crowd of supporters keeping vigil at the
courthouse during testimony and deliberations. "I need to be here for Mr. Grigsby because he's always been there for
us," a tearful Barnett said before the verdict. "Mr. Grigsby's always
gone to bat for us."
criminal charges in connection with a suggestive dance routine
students performed in his classroom in 2008. Ending a two-day trial in Georgia's DeKalb County State Court, jurors
found Nathan Grigsby not guilty of five misdemeanor charges of
contributing to the depravation of a minor. Grigsby's supporters, who filled one side of the courtroom, erupted
into cheers outside after the verdict was read. "I'm very excited and glad to see justice prevailed," Grigsby said. "I
put my faith in God that the jury would see the truth, which is the
way I told it." No one disputed the sexual nature of the boys' dance routine, which
was captured by a student's cell phone on December 11, 2008 and posted
on Facebook. Instead, the controversy lay in whether the teacher bore criminal
responsibility for not stopping the routine sooner than he did, and
where to draw the line between teenage misbehavior and criminal acts. The 68-second video, which became the trial's centerpiece, showed the
three teens ripping off their shirts and simulating sex acts in front
of an audience of squealing female classmates. At one point, one of
the boys grabbed a girl and hoisted her up as she wrapped her legs
around his hips, while another boy gyrated in the face of a girl lying
on the ground. DeKalb County Solicitor General Robert James contended that Grigsby
did not do enough to stop the routine and condoned it by laughing and
clapping along with his students. James said he respected the jury's verdict but still believed that
Grigsby had committed a crime. Given the chance to do it again, the
prosecutor said he would still take the case to trial. "People need to understand that their conduct will not go unchecked,"
James told reporters. "This is an issue that needed addressing." Three of Grigsby's former students at the high school in suburban
Atlanta also face public indecency charges in connection with the
case. One of them testified in Grigsby's defense. James said Wednesday's verdict will not affect future proceedings
against the teens, all of whom have since graduated from Southwest
DeKalb High School. "You had young men simulate sex acts with young women in a classroom,"
he said. "I do think what they did in that classroom is wrong, and
they need to be held accountable." A student involved in the dance routine, Jerramy Barnett, now 19,
testified that Grigsby did not know about it ahead of time. He said
the teacher had his back to the students when he turned on the music. Barnett's parents and three brothers -- two of whom also testified for
the defense -- were among the crowd of supporters keeping vigil at the
courthouse during testimony and deliberations. "I need to be here for Mr. Grigsby because he's always been there for
us," a tearful Barnett said before the verdict. "Mr. Grigsby's always
gone to bat for us."