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Second victim comes forth in Hopper child sexual abuse case

By Lisa Majors-Duff
Hopper Hopper The child sexual abuse case against a suspended Smoky Mountain High biology teacher appears to have strengthened following a statement provided by an alleged second victim.

Identified only as "Witness One" in court documents, the woman's name is being withheld at this point "to provide some degree of confidentiality and protection," said Detective Jimmy Clawson of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

The statement provided by "Witness One" - that she was a victim of sex offenses by Nathan Hopper for approximately three years - was listed with statements given by a member of Hopper's family to establish probable cause for a search warrant. Judge Marlene Hyatt issued the warrant, which was executed Jan. 10 at Hopper's Wayehutta Road residence in Cullowhee.

Hopper, 49, was arrested Nov. 28 during school hours at Smoky Mountain High, where he had taught biology and physical science since January 1999. He was charged with 30 counts of first-degree sex offense for allegedly molesting a child under the age of 13. The child involved is a member of Hopper's family and was between 10 and 14 years old during the alleged abuse, officers said.

"Witness One," who is said to be more than 40 years old now, was a pre-teen when she was allegedly abused by Hopper, who was a teenager at the time of the incident, Clawson said. She provided her statement to law enforcement by telephone from her home state of Louisiana, he said. Prior to contacting officers here, "Witness One" indicated she had made no disclosure of the alleged crime.

Clawson did not comment on possible additional charges against Hopper as a result of the statement provided by "Witness One."

The case against Hopper, who remains in the Jackson County Jail under a $1.5 million bond, appeared to be in jeopardy last month when members of the Grand Jury refused to return indictments in the case. Assistant District Attorney Monica Leslie said then that she planned to resubmit the charges, along with additional evidence gathered by law enforcement in the meantime, during the Jan. 28 Grand Jury session.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Jimmy Clawson at the Sheriff's Office at 586-8901.

Back to Archive: 01/17/02.