Temporary agreement in Craft custody case is sealed
by Adam Cook, staff reports
Jun 14, 2010 | 1267 views | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Tonya Craft and her former husband today reached a temporary child custody agreement, but the details were sealed.

The agreement came this morning in Hamilton County, Tenn., Circuit Court in Chattanooga before judge Marie Williams.

Craft, a former Chickamauga kindergarten teachers, was acquitted May 11 on 22 counts of child sex crimes in Catoosa County Superior Court. She had been accused of molesting three children, including her daughter.

This morning Craft and her attorneys were in court for a hearing to decide on more visitation and custody of her daughter and a son, who were taken from her when she was arrested two years ago.

After Craft’s acquittal last month, her attorneys, Clancy Covert of Chattanooga, and Cary S. King and Scott King of Atlanta, filed a motion for Craft to receive more visitation with her children between now and when they will be able to make their case for full custody on Thursday, July 22.

Craft, who had full custody of children before allegations that she sexually molested her daughter along with two other young girls surfaced in May 2008, appeared before judge Williams as she hope have that custody reinstated.

Court today began at 9 a.m., but the Craft hearing wasn’t reached on the court docket until shortly after 10 a.m.

It was presented to the court that Craft and her ex-husband Joal Henke reached a temporary custody arrangement, which was presented to judge Williams in her chambers shortly thereafter.

It was the agreement of both parties and that of the judge, that the details of the visitation arrangement be sealed to protect the best interests of the children.

After the short chamber meeting, Craft, hand in hand with her husband David, was flooded by media and ques-tions, but provided no comment on the temporary arrangement other than she is still “not happy” with the whole situation.

In addition, all three of Craft’s attorneys did not speak on the matter. “We really have no comment at this time,” Cary S. King said.

“As we’ve done all along, we’re going to do what is in the best interest of Tonya and her children,” said Clancy Covert. “We’re going to respect the wishes of judge Williams and we are going to keep moving forward from this point on.”

Scheduled on national television tonight

The national spotlight continues to shine on Tonya Craft, the former Catoosa County teacher who was found not guilty of 22 counts of molestation last month. After a court date scheduled this morning in the Hamilton County Circuit Court in Chattanooga, she is scheduled for a prime time interview with Larry King tonight.

Craft will appear on the show at 9 p.m., according to King’s blog at CNN.com. Comcast customers can find CNN on channel 37 or in HD on channel 223.

This will be the latest of her television appearances in national media.

Previously, features have aired on NBC’s “Today” show, and her attorneys appeared on King’s show after her not guilty verdict was handed down in May.

Since then, Craft’s lawyers filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Rome seeking $25 million in damages from her former accusers. She also is seeking more visitation time with her children in Hamilton County.
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