Phone, computer records sought for investigation

By Carey Phillips

The probe has led to charges against a Blue Ridge teacher and student and the resignation of two deputies with the Sheriff's Department.

One warrant seeks phone records from 293-3266 from Feb. 1-June 13. The phone book lists that number for Charles Hess. He is the father of Robbie Hess, school resource officer at Blue Ridge and one of the deputies who resigned last week.

The warrant states that the records may show previous communications between Joe Brooks and students łthat aided in the commission of several felonious acts."

Brooks, 29, Blue Ridge athletic director, baseball coach and a physical education teacher, is charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and promoting prostitution of a minor.

The other search warrant is for e-mail correspondence of four Hotmail accounts used by Brooks that are believed to be saved in the cache on Hess' notebook computer. Specifically, the warrant states that the accounts were used to send and receive e-mail from Jeremy Stewart and underage students at Blue Ridge School.

Stewart, an 18-year-old recent Blue Ridge graduate and basketball star, is charged with seven counts of statutory rape involving a 14-year-old Blue Ridge freshman.

Earlier search warrants alleged that Brooks paid an 18-year-old male more than $500 to perform sexual activities with a female. Those incidents are alleged to have occurred at Brooks' home on Yellow Mountain Road and his office at the school.

Neither Hess nor Tom Tenhagen, the other deputy who resigned, have been charged.

Tenhagen signed an agreement in 1999 allowing him to live in a house on the Blue Ridge campus and provide security at the school in addition to his duties with the Sheriff's Department. David Steinbicker, personnel director for Jackson County Schools, said a letter was sent to Tenhagen June 15 notifying him to vacate the house by Friday, June 22.

Back to Archive: 06/21/01.