VIERA, Fla. – The case against a Brevard County teacher who was arrested in connection with an alcohol-fueled house party involving 100 teens will not be dismissed, as of now.
Karly Anderson, charged with disorderly intoxication and disorderly conduct in the January party in Cocoa Beach, was in court Wednesday, but a judge ruled in favor of the state, which argued the defense failed to show that material facts in the case were in dispute.
[Watch what happened during Wednesday’s hearing]
The judge said Anderson’s defense could refile a motion to dismiss -- if that issued is remedied.
The state said at the hearing that a plea deal has been offered to Anderson, who has until 5 p.m. Friday to accept it. Details about the deal have not been made public.
As of now, a trial would begin Monday morning with jury selection.
Anderson was fired in January from her third-grade teaching job at Roosevelt Elementary School after Cocoa Beach police said an estimated 100 teens — ages 13 to 17 — came to a “white lie” party at the house of school Principal Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, who was also arrested.
[Watch police bodycam video below]
Police recommended charges for the two women, including child neglect, but the state attorney’s office settled on prosecuting Anderson only on misdemeanor charges.
Because of the reduction in charges, the school district reassigned Anderson to Saturn Elementary School, but she was placed on leave after police bodycam video from the house party was released.
“The State Attorney cleared Karly Anderson of the felony charges. Department of Children and Family Services cleared Ms. Anderson as well. She’s a certified teacher and as of today she’s been placed by the district back into a classroom,” the district said when Anderson was assigned to Saturn Elementary.
Once the video was released, however, things quickly changed.
“The body camera footage was not made available to the district prior to placing her back in the classroom on the morning of April 14th,” the district said the next day.
The bodycam video shows Anderson shouting profanities at first responders during the party, according to officials.
Anderson’s attorneys, however, say her actions do not support the charges against her and is seeking to have them dismissed.
[Watch video below for initial story about teacher, principal arrested in massive house party]