A parent accused of threatening Daleville Superintendent Joshua Robertson won his bid to have a restraining order lifted against him, after a judge said the evidence showed no intent to harm Roberson.
DOTHAN, Ala. -A parent accused of threatening Daleville Superintendent Joshua Robertson won his bid to have a restraining order lifted, after a judge said the evidence showed no intent to harm Robertson.
Houston County Circuit Judge Henry D. “Butch” Binford ruled late Wednesday that the case lacked sufficient proof that Frank Sanders meant to carry out any violence, though Sanders was angry with Robertson when he sent him a text message threatening to shoot the superintendent, which Sanders blamed on his phone’s talk-to-text feature. In his two-page order, Binford dissolved the temporary restraining order he issued last week that required Sanders to stay away from Robertson.
The judge also declined to issue a permanent injunction, though another hearing is scheduled in July. Robertson sought court protection after receiving a message in early April that included the word “shoot” and referenced harm to Robertson and his wife. Sanders testified that the message was sent using his phone’s voice-to-text feature and that the device inserted “shoot” when he intended to say “sue.
” He said he realized the error about 30 minutes later and immediately sent a follow-up text assuring Robertson no one would be harmed. Robertson waited about two weeks to seek court protection, thouogh testifying that he and his wife feared their safety. During a hearing Tuesday, Robertson became emotional as he described that fear, saying it was heightened by the number of school shootings in recent years.
Robertson said he contacted police after receiving Sanders’ first text and without knowing if there may have been an active shooter situation at Daleville High School. However, Daleville police conducted a brief investigation and concluded there was no basis for criminal charges. Binford’s ruling included a warning to Sanders, saying it was clear he and Robertson have deep differences and that Sanders should limit his contact with Robertson or risk possible harassment charges.
“The court concludes that, while the plaintiff Josh Robertson is a public official to whom the public should have access, repeated and unnecessary visits by the defendant to Mr. Robertson’s office could be construed as harassment,” Binford wrote. Binford inherited the case after both Dale County circuit judges recused because of family ties to the Daleville school system and law enforcement. Download the WTVY News4 app to get alerts and stories the moment they are published.
Available for FREE in theGenesis Reid’s body could take more than 2 months to findA tip led to an arrest in the murder case of Rickie Tyrrell Temmis‘We can bring her home sooner’: Police prepare Genesis Reid landfill search
Frank Sanders Daleville Binford Butch Binford
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iowa’s largest school district tightens conflict rules after audit flags ex-superintendentIowa's largest school district has revised its conflict-of-interest policy after an audit revealed its former superintendent awarded district business to a consulting firm he worked for. The audit affirms findings first reported by The Associated Press in the weeks after federal immigration officers detained Ian Roberts.
Read more »
Pentagon can restrict journalists' access, make them be escorted for now: CourtThe judges cited national security interests.
Read more »
Audit confirms conflict of interest of the former Iowa superintendent who was arrested by ICERoberts pleaded guilty in January to falsely claiming citizenship and illegally possessing firearms.
Read more »
Daleville superintendent cries describing fear from text message sender claims was errorDaleville Superintendent Joshua Robertson broke down in court Tuesday as he described the moment that he believed a disgruntled parent had threatened to kill him — and how fear followed him afterwards.
Read more »
Tolleson Union superintendent sues Rep. Matt Gress for defamationElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Lorain superintendent addresses graduation date changeLorain City School District officials addressed the graduation date change in a social media video shared Wednesday.
Read more »