Special Education Teacher Posts Bail

The indictment reveals a pattern of abuse.

According to the indictment Pickens inflicted physical and mental pain on students including slamming one face-first into school lockers and walls.

That student was Jake Marshall and that abuse allegedly took place sometime between March and May of 2007.

Then there’s the accusations involving Carlyn Murray, another special needs student.

The indictment indicates Pickens caused excessive and mental pain by screaming in Murray’s ear as a way of mocking the student.

WABE legal analyst Page Pate says a case like this is not going to be very appealing to the jury from a defense standpoint.

“If she and her lawyer try to argue that there was some of misunderstanding or that she was justified in doing what they’ve alleged did, that’s going to be a very tough sell.”

But Pate also says the state will have to produce evidence.

“I think more interesting will be whether or not the state is able to produce witnesses to actually document and corroborate these incidents they’re alleging in the indictment. I know there ought to be several witnesses because these actions apparently took place in the classroom or at least near the classroom.”

In a statement from the Fulton County schools district, “We have been cooperative with the district attorney’s office from the beginning to assist with this case and feel confident that Ms. Pickens will be held accountable.”