Teacher, officer, student indicted in Blue Ridge sex scandal

By Carey Phillips

Brooks

Joe Brooks, 29, the school's athletic director and physical education teacher, was indicted on three counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of taking indecent liberties with a student, two counts of crime against nature and two counts of sex offense with a student.

Brooks has been suspended with pay by the Jackson County School System. Robbie Hess, 29, former Blue Ridge resource officer, was indicted on four counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy, two counts of accessory before the fact to a felony and three counts of accessory after the fact to a felony.

Hess worked at the school as a resource officer through his employment as a deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. He resigned those positions June 11 prior to charges being filed against him.

Hess

All of the charges against the three men are felonies.

Brooks had been charged with 22 felonies and 25 misdemeanors. Among the felony charges on which indictments were not sought were promoting prostitution of a minor and breaking and entering.

Indictments were not sought against Hess for indecent liberties with a student, charges he originally faced. He had not been charged with conspiracy and obstruction until the indictments were returned.

"We broke it down to the meat of the whole thing and went with the most serious charges," Sheriff Jim Cruzan said. "We kind of separated the wheat from the chaff."

Stewart

"We have learned a lot about what happened even within the past few days," Leonard said. "Every one of the (original) charges are still on the table. We went with the most serious charges based on where the investigation is right now."

Stewart is charged with engaging in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old Blue Ridge freshman, according to the indictments.

The sexual exploitation charges against Brooks allege that he encouraged or facilitated the sexual activity between Stewart and the minor female "for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity." Authorities had previously indicated that Brooks taped at least some of the sexual activity, which they believed occurred at his school office and former Cashiers residence.

Hess is alleged to have committed obstruction of justice by lying to law enforcement officers on four occasions. The conspiracy and accessory charges involve Hess covering a class taught by Brooks, allowing the victim to leave and return to the campus, assisting Stewart in returning to the campus undetected and locating the victim after the offense occurred so Brooks could speak to her.

Back to Archive: 07/26/01.