Criminal charges could be dropped against a former Cobb County teacher if she completes a program designed for certain defendants.
Toshuaa Tymille Baker, a former Campbell High School math teacher, has entered the county's Pretrial Diversion Program, which is for first-time offenders whose alleged crimes did not result in injury and "are otherwise non-violent and non-aggressive in nature."
Baker allegedly made the comment during a meeting she had in March with her son's teacher at King Springs Elementary School. In a meeting about her son's school performance, Baker allegedly told the teacher "I'm going to blow up the school" if her son wasn't allowed to skip the fourth grade, according to testimony from another teacher during a hearing. She was later charged and indicted on one count of felony terroristic threats for the comment.
The Cobb County School Board in July unanimously voted to terminate Baker's teaching contract.
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Baker’s entry into the pretrial program means her case is now on the dead docket of Cobb County Superior Court. If Baker doesn’t complete the program, the case will be placed back on the calendar for prosecution, according to a Dec. 17 court order.
Kamau Mason, Baker’s attorney, declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
Participants in the Pretrial Diversion Program are supervised and have to undergo counseling, drug screening and perform community service. They must be at least 17 years old, and must ask the District Attorney’s Office to be enrolled. Participants must live in Georgia and travel to Cobb County Drug Treatment Court for testing, and pay all administrative and drug screening fees and restitution.
If Baker completes the program, her charges will be dismissed or the District Attorney’s Office will submit an order not to prosecute the case, according to the program’s website.
State law allows Baker to appeal her firing to the state Board of Education. Meghan Frick, a spokeswoman with the Georgia Department of Education, said an appeal from Baker has not been submitted as of Wednesday.
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