A plea agreement that would have ended the case of a former Stephen Decatur High School music teacher who admitted 33 years ago to having a sexual relationship with one of his students came to an altogether different end in Circuit Court in Snow Hill on Tuesday.
The case, which has been working its way through the courts since last fall, was dismissed after a motion by Assistant State’s Attorney Pamela Correa to reduce the charges against Ronald Davis, 64, was denied by Circuit Court Judge Beau Oglesby because of a conflict with the statute of limitations.
Davis, who left Worcester schools for a similar job in Somerset County after confessing to his supervisor late in the 1991-92 school year that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old female student, was initially charged with felony child abuse.
In court on Tuesday, Correa told the court Davis was prepared to plead guilty if the state could amend the charges to a misdemeanor violation of the state education law regarding school security and sex offenses.
Oglesby, noting that he had considered that possibility over the weekend, said he could not do for the prosecution and defense what they could not do themselves — lower the charges to a misdemeanor offense without triggering a conflict with the statute of limitations.
“You’re asking me to grant a motion to do something that can’t be done,” the judge said.
Wow. What a mess.