Ex-teacher told to pay $3 million for sex abuse

WVTM-TV 13 (NBC)

Birmingham, AL

February 8, 2008

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A federal judge ordered a former middle school teacher to pay $3 million to relatives of a student who was sexually abused by the man.

Charles Andrews, who received a sentence of probation after pleading guilty in 2006, was ordered to play $2.5 million in punitive damages and $500,000 in compensation.

Birmingham attorney Tommy James said Federal Judge Karon Bowdre entered a judgment against Andrews after he failed to respond to the lawsuit, which accused him of abusing an eighth-grade girl at Pittman Middle School in Hueytown in late 2004 and early 2005.

Andrews could not be located for comment. A computer lab teacher and bus driver at the time of his arrest, James said Andrews also was a minister at a Baptist church in Jefferson County.

http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2008-02-08-0009.html