UPDATE: Tucker Middle School Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes
Almarcus Dewayne Thomas appeared in court today on multiple charges against a minor child.
Updated at 4:20 p.m. March 1.
Almarcus Dewayne Thomas appeared at a hearing this afternoon in DeKalb County Magistrates Court. He is charged with three counts each of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation, and one count each of sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault against a person in custody and unlawful surveillance.
Thomas, 42, of Lithonia, is a seventh grade teacher and leader of the mathematics department at Tucker Middle School. He was arrested yesterday and is being held in Dekalb County Jail.
The alleged victim is a female student who lives on Fellowship Road, where some some of the incidents are said to have taken place. Others allegedly occurred on school property. Court documents said the incidents happened between March and September of 2011.
Thomas sat in court in a row by himself, handcuffed and wearing an orange DeKalb Jail jumpsuit. He was read the charges by the judge and was asked if he understood them. He replied that he did.
He was asked his birthdate - Sept. 8, 1969 - and his level of education. He declined a public defender and said that he would be represented by private counsel, whom he named as Baroque Thomas. The latter was not present and it is unclear if the two men are related.
The judge set a commitment hearing for Tuesday, March 20. Thomas was escorted from the building through a side exit to avoid photographers and was driven away in a red Ford. He could be seen lying down in the back seat, his face hidden from view.
Security personnel at Tucker Middle School declined comment this afternoon and referred Tucker Patch to Walter Woods, Public Affairs Representative for DeKalb County School District. Woods did not immediately return a call from Patch.
Original article:
A seventh grade mathematics teacher at Tucker Middle School was arrested Wednesday and charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child.
DeKalb County Police spokesperson Mekka Parish told Tucker Patch that the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit was called in by school officials to conduct a forensic analysis of a computer belonging to Almarcus Dewayne Thomas.
"Based on evidence found - nude pictures of the student - we brought charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child," Parish said.
Thomas is also facing other charges that were filed by the School Police. His first court appearance is at 1:15 p.m. today.
There will be more details as they become available.
Ginny Mauldin-Kinney
1:05 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
This is a disgrace to the Tucker community and to the reputation of Tucker Middle School and the DeKalb County School System. Much speculation was flying across the student body yesterday at TMS when Mr. Thomas was arrested. As the victim is a minor, I am sure that school and local authorities are required to limit the available information for her protection. This is not a story where the five W's will necessarily be answered.
tressa
5:26 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
the kids was in the 7 th. and its sad my family gose to that school and I'm so happy she wasnt on his team
amh7577
8:41 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
This is a shame. If you cant trust teachers with your children who can you trust? Even if the child was sexually interested in this adult the point is still "He is the adult" and should have reported it instead of taking advantage of a minor! I am glad we moved in the area when my child entered the 9th grade and didn't have to attend TMS. What is wrong with adults now a days? People use your mind and think with it not the other pleasure parts of yourselves. What he should have done was reported her to the school counsler and got her some help instead of taking advantage of a child's curiosity.
Tucker Supporter
12:50 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Please note: Mr. Thomas is no longer a teacher at TMS. The TMS Administration discovered inappropriate photos on Mr. Thomas' work computer in December 2011 and alerted the Dekalb County police. The TMS Administration released Mr. Thomas at that time and he has not been back in a classroom at TMS since school released for Winter Break in December 2011.
Tucker Middle is a GREAT school filled with OUTSTANDING teachers. I am a parent and an active volunteer in the school and spend a lot of time in the building - please don't label a school as "bad" if you've never stepped foot in the building or just because one adult makes extraordinarily poor choices. The TMS Administration handled the situation swiftly and with the student's best interest in mind. In addition, they are working to inform and equip parents with the best tools to discuss these awful events with students and providing excellent assistance to students on this matter as well. This one teacher's actions DO NOT represent TMS or Tucker - the collective and diverse community of parents, teachers, students and Tucker supporters have worked hard to create a safe and enriching environment for these thoughtful and bright students to learn and grow and succeed.
Watergirl
7:42 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Well said!!!! I love Tucker and my children attend! Mr. Thomas was my child's 7th grade math teacher, and I'm sadden by this news. However you stated it perfectly, one person bad decision does not make the school or community.....
gerry weise
12:55 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
My child was his student and last year he was suspended for the same thing.some how he was allowed back into the school system to hurt more confused little girls.
Jimmy Bridges
8:00 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Was this an official suspension? When did this happen?
Jimmy Bridges
8:30 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
I checked with the county and there is no record of any previous suspension. Don't believe everything you read here!
Arline Clark
6:04 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
It is so sad that you cannot trust some male or female teachers with your children. Overall most of them are trustworthy but the ones like this one puts a bad stain on educators. He deserves whatever he gets and then some.
Support for educators
Snigley Johnson
11:12 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
We all knew this was going to happen. I don't know why everyone is so shocked.
Snigley Johnson
11:15 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
We all knew what kind of teacher he was. We all knew he was like this. EVERYONE knew it. Including the teachers. Don't try to make TMS look like it was a good school. People get bullied, harrassed, and put down all the time, yeah it happens everywhere but at tucker, it's probably the worst. Mr.Thomas told one of his former students " You're a failure". Now look who the failure is. He lost everything. Yeah, it wasn't all his fault. But he should of been an adult and said no. STOP BEING SO SHOCKED EVERYONE you knew this was going to happen. you KNEW it.
Watergirl
7:47 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
First of all if you knew this, then why didn't you report this? So now you are just as guilty as he is! Ticker is a good school, and let's get the facts straight bullying is going going on everywhere in this country (maybe you didn't hear about the situation in Ohio)
Watergirl
7:49 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
So please don't bash Tucker!!!! Please and thank you....
Cheryl Miller
5:59 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
If everyone knew it then why was he allowed to be in a room alone with a young girl after school with the door closed? I don't understand how this could happen in the school.
Trenton Williams
11:58 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Mr.Thomas was my favorite teacher :-(
Trenton Williams
12:02 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
I didn't
vgr2100
12:07 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
There are three sides to every story. Her side, his side, and the truth. One truth is raging hormones on one or the other side or both. Future solutions, going forward, must include teachers' workshops that also coach male and female teachers how to deal with male and female students' raging hormones at such ages. Students are coached to promptly report teachers' inappropriate touching behaviour. However, I do not know that teachers are coached to promptly report students' inappropriate touching behaviour. Hence, due to raging hormones, both teachers and students need to be coached to promptly report inappropriate touching behaviour to authority figures..
Maureen Middlebrooks
8:49 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Implicit in your comment is a blaming the victim attitude. There is one truth....she is a child, he is an adult and was in a position of authority as her teacher. If he is guilty of what he is accused of, and from some of the evidence it appears he is, then he has abused that relationship and that child. My empathy is for the child.
Jada Benniefield
9:00 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Mr. Thomas was a great techer and I love him and he has taught me many things but people do make bad decision and mistakes, but that is why gos told us to forgive and forget and that is what we all should do he was my seventh grade teacher and now i am in eighth grade i appreciate everything he has done god will put you through this test your are either going to pass or fail.
camarrac campbell
9:41 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
thank u
Ashley Crandle
11:47 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
your right. i`m in the 11th grade now. he was my 6th grade teacher, and i loved taking his class.. no one should judge him but god :)
Jada Benniefield
9:05 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Everything happens for a reason but only god can make the decision not the schools nor the judge.
Ashley Crandle
11:48 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
true
Hayley
11:29 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
You sound like exactly what you are. An ignorant eighth grader who still believes that god will make life turn out just how you want it to. The judge is exactly who makes the decision and I hope that he decided to put the teacher in jail for a long time. It had nothing to do with what god thinks and everything to do with the fact that that man is disgusting.
tucker parent
4:05 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Hayley, why so harsh? Just because you don't agree doesn't give you the right to bash someone's faith. Who sounds ignorant now?
Fulton county is the best
4:25 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
This is like Dekalb County School System. They hire friends and relatives. If you are an outsider you have no chance of employment. Also, you never get to the right people to get anything done. This guy was probably reported 2 years ago and they have now got the message because he is someones cousin.
camarrac campbell
9:38 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
omg Mr.Thomas was always there when i was in I.S.S and to see him on the internet is weird but this girl knew what was gonna happen for doing this nd he did as well she should be getting punished to but Mr.T we love you and i hope you get through this
Love.Camarra Campbel l