The Administrative Hearing is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 in Columbus, Ohio.  At this administrative hearing, Columbus Public School will attempt to establish that Regina Crenshaw "failed to investigate or properly respond to suspected child abuse and activity of a criminal nature and failed to report suspected child abuse or criminal activity to the proper authorities, including her immediate supervisor, the Columbus Department of Police, and public children's service agency."

Columbus Public School has at least three difference reporting policies:

1. Child Abuse Policy

2. Welfare Policy

3. Outreach Policy

4. Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421

Each of these four policies say different things as it relates to reporting abuse.  A jury has already declared that Regina Crenshaw is not guilty.  It is abundantly clear that she notified the proper authorities when this incident occurred on March 9, 2005.

Also, the four reporting policies above are confusing and contradictory.  For example, one policy may require reporting abuse to a local agency, whereas another policy may dictate that facts first be ascertained, and then a report made.  That policy that dictates that facts first be ascertained clashes with a third policy that says that no investigation is allows.  These policies contain numerous other contradictory statements.

The biggest contradiction is that Mrs. Crenshaw is accused of failing to conduct an INVESTIGATION, where a Columbus Public Schools policy blatantly says that she is NOT ALLOWED TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS!!!!

These policies may all be accessed by simply clicking onto the specific policy as listed above.

Columbus City Prosecutor’s Office begins prosecuting Regina Crenshaw in Franklin County Municipal Court, which, again, is the wrong court because it lacks jurisdiction.

NARRATIVE SUMMARY

Former Mifflin Principal Regina Crenshaw was placed on unpaid, administrative leave in March, 2005, for allegedly failing to call police after an alleged sexual assault at the high school. On June 1, 2005, the Columbus Police Department filed a criminal charge in Franklin County Municipal Court against Mrs. Crenshaw for failing to contact police on March 9, 2005, the date of the incident. As it turned out, the City Prosecutor’s Office was prosecuting Mrs. Crenshaw in the wrong court because the Franklin County Municipal Court had no authority or jurisdiction to preside over Mrs. Crenshaw’s case. The case may now have to be moved to another court that does have jurisdiction. For the reasons expressed below, Mrs. Crenshaw is innocent of this charge.

The law that Mrs. Crenshaw is accused of violating, Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421, requires a mandated reporter to contact either the Columbus Police or Franklin County Children Services if they become aware of child abuse, or suspect abuse. Any adult working in Columbus Public Schools is a mandated reporter. Any parent is also a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters must notify police or children services in the event of child abuse or suspected abuse.

The March 9th incident is of a sexual nature. If this incident is considered to be child abuse AND a mandated reporter became aware of the child abuse, then that mandated reporter is obligated to contact the authorities. If no child abuse occurs then the mandated reporter need not contact anyone.

In the case of Mifflin, the Columbus Police were notified on March 9th at 2:46 p.m. by the father of the young lady involved that a sexual assault had occurred in the school and that it involved his daughter and that the suspects were still at “Mifflin High School.” Within a few minutes of the father calling 911, he is introduced to then-Principal Regina Crenshaw. He informs Mrs. Crenshaw that he has called the police and that the police are on their way. Both the father and Mrs. Crenshaw are mandated reporters and we thus have a situation where one mandated reporter has notified another mandated reporter that he has contacted the police and that the police are on their way.

Upon being summoned to Mifflin High School, the Columbus Police Department responds by erroneously going to Mifflin Elementary School. The Columbus Police then leave Mifflin Elementary School and travel erroneously to Mifflin Middle School where they spend another extended period of time (click here for details). The police then apparently abort their response attempt and go elsewhere, but not to “Mifflin High School,” which is where they were summoned.

Meanwhile, back at Mifflin, Mrs. Crenshaw directs her school security officer to contact police regarding the sexual incident. The school security officer, a mandated reporter as well, also has a duty to contact police regardless of whether Mrs. Crenshaw directs him to or not. But he does obey Mrs. Crenshaw’s order and immediately calls the police on March 9th. He even speaks with a Columbus Police Officer. At this point, the Columbus Police Department has been notified not once, but twice, of suspected child abuse on March 9th, at Mifflin High School. Both of these calls to the Columbus Police Department from the high school occur before the adults leave the school building for the evening. It is the Columbus Police that fail to respond to Mifflin High School after these two requests are made, as they go instead to Mifflin Middle School and Mifflin Elementary School. Yet it is the Columbus Police Department that file criminal charges against Regina Crenshaw in Franklin County Municipal Court, which is the Court that lacks jurisdiction over the matter.

The Columbus media learn of the case and the media frenzy begins. In the attempt to find a scapegoat, Mrs. Crenshaw is targeted. She is targeted when Columbus Public Schools place her on unpaid administrative leave. (The media continue to erroneous report that Mrs. Crenshaw has been fired from Columbus Public Schools but she has NOT been terminated. She has been suspended without pay.) She is targeted again three months later on June 1, 2005 when Columbus Police (who don’t respond to the high school after the first 911 call is made) file criminal charges against her in Franklin County Municipal Court. Five months later, in October, 2005, the City Prosecutor realizes the mistake and has been prosecuting Mrs. Crenshaw for five months in the wrong court.

Regina Crenshaw, who was been on unpaid suspension by Superintendent Gene Harris since March 11, 2005, continues to fight to show her innocence. Incidentally, because of the manner in which Superintendent Gene Harris suspended her, Regina Crenshaw is not eligible to collect unemployment benefits either. Despite the foregoing, Mrs. Crenshaw continues to pray for Columbus Public Schools and has the highest hopes and expectations for the students. She truly believes that the students are certified gold!

Attorney Rosa Eliades of Houston, TX serves as co-counsel to Toki Clark in the representation of Regina Crenshaw.  For more information on Ms. Eliades, please go to www.eliadeslaw.com or contact her at rosa@eliadeslaw.com.  Both Ms. Eliades and Ms. Clark serve as staff at the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in DuBois, Wyoming.  Please visit www.triallawyerscollege.com for more information.