PALMETTO, Fla. — Lincoln Memorial Academy Principal Eddie Hundley fought back Wednesday against allegations that he lied on a letter of recommendation in order to help an alleged sex offender get a different teaching job in Sarasota County.
- Hundley represented self during hearing
- Teacher at center of case resigned from Manatee County in 2017
- Hundley claims blame for hiring should fall on Sarasota County
Hundley represented himself during the nearly six-hour hearing on Wednesday. The Department of Education claims that Hundley wrote a recommendation letter for a former teacher at his school, despite being informed that employee was under investigation.
The teacher at the center of this case, Quentin Peterson, resigned from his job with the School District of Manatee County in September 2017. He had previously worked as a music teacher at Lincoln Middle School as part of Hundley's staff.
An investigation by Palmetto Police, FDLE, and CPS revealed that Peterson allegedly had sex with one student and took nude photos of another. It is not clear where the two underage girls attended school.
Did he know?
The state called witnesses whose accounts supported their argument that Hundley knew about the allegations against Peterson, but wrote him a stellar review anyway.
One witness referenced a July 2017 email that Hundley was copied on as proof he knew about the impending charges against Peterson. Another witness, Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler, claimed he told Hundley what was going on during an October 2, 2017 phone call.
“The conversation was to let Mr. Hundley know that we found probable cause and that charges were filed," Tyler explained.
The recommendation letter at the crux of the case was dated September 2017. A second recommendation was submitted in February 2018.
Shifting the blame
Hundley didn't call any of his own witnesses, but ended the hearing by saying that the blame for the hiring mistake in Sarasota County should not be blamed on him.
“The only thing that’s been done here is after the fact hearsay, and none of which was in the original complaint sent to the state," Hundley asserted. "Sarasota didn’t investigate to find out. Manatee didn’t investigate to find out. And no one did as much to ask me, now the train is down this track."
The state will decide what action should be taken. The answer is expected within the next two months.
If found culpable, Hundley could lose his educator's certificate.