New Kent teacher remains jailed on sex crime charges

By Alan Chamberlain | January 16, 2008 11:04 am

A veteran New Kent Middle School teacher remains behind bars after being denied bond on felony sex charges in Charles City County. But the situation involving Bruce Flanders, 61, could change as early as today (Wednesday) when he is to appear for another bond hearing in Charles City General District Court.

Flanders was arrested at his Charles City residence (19701 The Glebe Lane) on Jan. 4 in connection with charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 22-year-old female teacher at New Kent Middle School. He is being held at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County.

In Charles City, Flanders is charged with three felony counts of sodomy and two counts of aggravated sexual battery along with one misdemeanor assault count. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place at the female teacher’s Charles City home between late November and early January.

Flanders also faces one count each of aggravated sexual battery, misdemeanor sexual battery, and misdemeanor assault in New Kent County stemming from alleged incidents over the same time frame at the middle school. The suspect was being held without bond on the New Kent charges, but during a Jan. 8 hearing in New Kent General District Court, bond was set at $20,000.

New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said information supplied by the alleged victim to Cpl. Kevin Watkins, the department’s resource officer at the middle school, sparked an investigation that led to Flanders’ arrest. The sheriff added that the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed.

Capt. Jayson Crawley with the Charles City Sheriff’s Office said authorities there acted after being contacted by New Kent investigators.

Crawley also said Flanders appeared for a Jan. 9 bond hearing in Charles City court, but bond was denied by Judge Colleen Killilea since the suspect’s attorney was not present. He added that county Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler recommended no bond to the court after interviewing the alleged victim.

Flanders, who is married and has two children, is a longtime teacher at the middle school. School Superintendent Roy Geiger said he is uncertain how many years the suspect has been employed in New Kent, but added that Flanders taught in the school’s special education department.

Geiger said Flanders has been placed on leave, but declined to say if leave is paid or unpaid. The superintendent declined to comment on the alleged victim’s status, saying only that the situation is a personnel matter. No students are involved, Geiger said.