An investigation into use of a Tharptown High School credit card ended Thursday after a Franklin County grand jury failed to issue an indictment.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing confirmed Friday morning that a grand jury heard evidence regarding the investigation and decided there was insufficient evidence to indict any individuals.
“The Alabama Bureau of Investigation's financial investigation into Tharptown High School has been concluded with no charges against any individual after presentation to a Franklin County grand jury this week,” Rushing said.
The investigation involved use of a school-issued credit card by THS Assistant Principal Jonathan Odom. No charges were ever filed against Odom and, through his attorney, Tim Case of Florence, Odom denied any wrongdoing and cooperated fully with law enforcement officials in the investigation.
“My representation of Mr. Odom was to assist him in fully cooperating with and making him available to officials,” Case said. “This was not because he was worried about anything he might have been accused of, but to help him through the process and get him cleared.”
The investigation began last spring after a financial audit of Franklin County Schools and when school officials were contacted by a local bank about checks presented on the Tharptown account with insufficient funds.
Rushing said the ABI was contacted and that agency began an investigation that, in part, looked at certain credit card charges made by Odom on the school card.
“With a case like that involving local schools, we get an outside agency involved in a sensitive matter like this,” Rushing said. “I do think they did a thorough investigation and all facts were looked into and they did a good job in getting everything presented to our office and the process was fair to everybody,” he added.
Rushing declined to address specific factual questions about the investigation due to the fact that the matter was no billed by a grand jury and the case is now considered closed.
Alabama law calls for a grand jury to consist of 18 citizens, 12 of whom must find probable cause that a crime was committed after presentation to the grand jury in order to issue an indictment. Barring some new information, Rushing said the matter is legally concluded.
“This case is considered closed unless the investigating agency brings new evidence or additional evidence to our information that would warrant a new investigation,” Rushing said.
Case said neither he nor his client were ever “formally notified of the accusations” against Odom. Case said a search warrant was executed on Odom's home as part of the investigation and that his client cooperated fully in that process as well.
“I don't want to comment on specifics,” Case said. “It was explained to the grand jury. We just went in there and said here we are and here are our records.”
According to Tharptown's school website, Odom began coaching and teaching at the school in 2006. He previously coached basketball and track at the school before being named assistant principal.
Case confirmed that his client testified before the grand jury, something he doesn't usually recommend to his clients.
“I've only done that six or seven times, and never before in Franklin County. But (Odom) had nothing to hide and we were showing our full cooperation and apparently the grand jury agreed and he was cleared of everything with no charges filed,” Case said.
Franklin County Superintendent of Education Greg Hamilton confirmed Friday he had been notified by Rushing that the case, after presentation to a grand jury, was no billed. Hamilton declined to say whether any further action would be taken by the school system regarding the allegations.
“It's a personnel matter and I can't comment much on it,” Hamilton said. “I was notified today by Joey Rushing that the ABI investigation into Tharptown School was resolved. That's about all I can say.”
Rushing declined to say whether any school officials other than Odom testified before the grand jury.
“I just can't go into who testified. The ABI handled the case and they were the ones involved in interviewing and doing the investigative work on the case,” Rushing said.
Case said his client was pleased to have the matter behind him.
“From getting to know Jonathan through this I've learned he has a great reputation and passion for being a school administrator, teacher and coach and that's what he's going to continue to do,” Case said.
