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Parents criticize school
Parents, P.I. suggest county brushed them off
Date published: 4/4/2006 By MELISSA NIX By MELISSA NIX and BILL FREEHLING A private investigator claims that Courtland High School's administration was slow to respond to accusations of sexual misconduct on the part of special education teacher Bonnie Sue Davis. School officials assert that they followed proper protocol. Davis, 35, is accused of sexual misconduct with two Courtland High boys, ages 14 and 15. Ralph Bennett, private investigator and proprietor of R&R Bennett Inc. in Fredericksburg, said he found out about the allegations through a friend of his family. He began a pro bono investigation shortly thereafter, he said. The parents of the two boys reported the allegations to Courtland Principal Michael Bedwell on Feb. 17 and Feb. 20, Bennett said. "Two parents complained to the principal and were told it was not an issue," he said. Bennett's family friend, whose son knows the two alleged victims, contacted Bennett out of frustration, he said. "I couldn't believe she had to come to me," he said. Bennett said Bedwell should have contacted the Sheriff's Office rather than keeping the investigation in-house. He said an alarm should sound anytime criminal activity is alleged. "They're educators, not investigators," said Bennett, who retired after 22 years with the Prince William County Police Department. But according to Spotsylvania County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brenda Seals, Bedwell investigated the incident appropriately based on what he could learn at the time. "The principal investigated the situation and concluded that the boy liked the teacher and that there had not been any outside contact with any of the students [on Davis' part]. She only provided tutorial services to the students after school at the school," Seals said. She added that Bedwell interviewed Davis as well, who also denied any wrongdoing. Both Seals and Bennett said that the boys at first denied any sexual contact with Davis when Bedwell met with them Feb. 17. Bennett began looking into the matter a month after Bedwell's investigation--on March 17. He said he interviewed both boys, and began double-checking the details they provided him.
Date published: 4/4/2006
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