March 31, 2016 - A Shelby County Jury began the arduous task of participating in the trial of Johanna Grace Vickers on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 following a two-day selection process from a jury pool originally consisting of 59 candidates. The first day of trial ended with the alleged victim in the case testifying and being scheduled to return the following morning.
The trial began with Judson Matthews, Shelbyville ISD Police Chief, taking the stand and beginning the thread which started the investigation into Vickers. He initiated questioning of Vickers and the alleged victim, a 16-year-old boy, and requested Vickers' cell phone which she voluntarily turned over, 2-3 hours after it was requested.
Once Matthews determined the situation he was tasked to investigate may have a criminal aspect, he contacted Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Chad Brown, who was next to take the stand.
Investigator Brown's testimony revealed through his investigation he was able to recover text messages and video communications from the phone of the alleged victim in the case. The messages revealed a romantic relationship, which the victim confirmed, subsequently leading to the arrest of Vickers on charges of inappropriate relationship between educator and student.
Interview of the alleged victim and Vickers revealed she and the minor engaged in a variety of sex acts equating to five instances.
There are three separate criminal cases against Vickers, as there are three separate dates in which sex acts are said to have occurred (March 28, April 27, and May 9, 2015) and as a result each case mirrors the same number of equal charges. These charges include Sexual Assault - Child Victim (2 counts); Indecency with a Child by Contact (1 count); and Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student (3 counts).
A motion of consolidation was granted on March 28, 2016 combining the three cases into the same trial.
In each case, Vickers pleaded guilty to the three counts of improper relationship between educator and student, and thusly in engaging in sexual intercourse with the alleged victim. The other three counts in each case to which Vickers did not plead guilty specifically state Vickers caused the alleged acts to occur. The defense for Vickers, Seth Johnson, stated in opening arguments Vickers is not guilty of these counts, because she did not cause them to happen. It remains to be seen if the jury will agree with his assessment.
Although the relationship appeared to be reciprocal and the alleged victim stated as much while on the witness stand, the fact remains he was a minor at the time of the sexual relationship with Vickers, a 36-year-old woman.
Stephen Shires, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney, asked the alleged victim how it makes him feel Vickers is being prosecuted for having sex with him. He stated it makes him feel horrible and he feels like it's his fault. The alleged victim shared he has had to endure endless jokes and statements as a result of the whole situation. When asked for an example of a joke, he couldn't recall specifically on the spot, but he did recall being called a "teacher killer."
Testimony of the now 17-year-old continues at 9am on Thursday, March 31, 2016.
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