A longtime Cobb County high school principal and a social studies teacher were free on bond Friday, one day after their arrests on charges related to alleged sexual battery that happened inside a school.
James Chadwick Brigham, 37, of Woodstock, has been charged with one count of felony sexual battery and two counts of misdemeanor battery for incidents that allegedly occurred inside Kell High School, according to Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce.
Brigham is a social studies teacher at Kell, according to the Cobb school's website.
Trudie Irene Donovan, 61, of Marietta, faces a misdemeanor charge of failing to report child abuse, Pierce said. Donovan retired as principal of Kell earlier this month.
The charges are the result of allegations made by two students beginning May 18, according to police. On that day, police said, a Kell student reported battery and sexual battery to school officials. The student said the alleged battery had occurred the previous day.
On May 22, the allegations were reported to Cobb County police, who began an investigation, Pierce said.
Then, on May 24, a second student disclosed to school officials that the student was a victim of a battery that occurred earlier that day. School officials reported the alleged battery to police the same day, Pierce said.
Inquiries regarding why police charged Donovan were referred to school officials. A schools spokesman declined to discuss the charges Thursday evening, saying they involve personnel issues.
Brigham turned himself in at the jail at 8:25 p.m. Thursday, booking records show. He was released early Friday on $25,000 bond.
Donovan turned herself in shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday and was released four hours later after posting $1,000 bond, according to jail records.
Donovan had served as principal at Kell for six years, according to a letter posted on the school's website.
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