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Brevard High band teacher sentenced for sex with student

By Bill Moss, Published: March 9, 2016

A former band teacher at Brevard High School was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation after he pleaded guilty in Transylvania County Superior Court to five felony counts of Indecent liberties with a student.

During the fall of 2014, an investigation into Franklin began when Brevard High School administrators and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip alleging misconduct between Franklin and his students. The investigation revealed that Franklin was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female student.

Superior Court Judge Mark Powell sentenced Kenneth Franklin, of Brevard, to five consecutive sentences of 24 months Supervised Probation. Franklin cannot have any contact with the victim, cannot possess a firearm and must register as a sex offender for a period of 30 years.

“We recognize our teachers hold positions of trust," District Attorney Greg Newman said. "This man violated that trust. We appreciate the Transylvania County school system dismissing Mr. Franklin from his position. This conviction will revoke his certification to be a teacher in North Carolina.”

In another Transylvania County case, Larry Miller, of 2151 East Fork Road, Brevard, pled guilty to Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place for Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Miller was sentenced to 19 months in prison.

Newman also announced case dispositions from Superior Court terms in Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties Feb. 29 to March 3.

In Henderson County:

• Aaron McCraw, of 1122 Robinson Terrace, Hendersonville, pled guilty to two counts of Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance, two counts of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Larceny from Person. McCraw was sentenced to 113 months in prison.
• James Frady, of 103 Carver Street, Brevard, pled guilty to Habitual Felon and Flee to Elude Arrest. Frady was sentenced to 93 months in prison.
• Corey Leach, of 108 Malvern Drive, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Larceny from Person, Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, two counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, and three counts of Receiving Stolen Goods. Leach was sentenced to four consecutive sentences of 21 months in prison.
• Billy Edwards, of Green Meadows Apartments in Hendersonville, previously pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Cocaine, Attempted Trafficking Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance, Habitual Felon, Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Edwards was sentenced to 82 months in prison.
• Robert Anderson of 64 Pennsylvania Road, Mills River, pled guilty to Habitual Driving While Impaired, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Driving While License Revoked. Anderson was sentenced to 39 months in prison.
• Gaven Stubberfield, of 5332 Hicone Road, McLeansville, NC, pled guilty to Uttering Forged Instrument. Stubberfield was sentenced to 20 months in prison to be served concurrently with his current prison sentence.
• Holly Clark, of 18 Twin Oaks Park Drive, Fletcher, NC, pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice and was sentenced to 17 months in prison.
• Jacob Hoots, of 67 Madrid Lane, Hendersonville, NC, pled guilty to Misdemeanor Assault Inflicting Serious Injury and was sentenced to 150 days confinement.
• Jeffrey Fisher, of Horse Shoe, NC, pled guilty to Driving While License Revoked and received 10 days confinement.

In Polk County Sean Michael Harrington, of Philadelphia, pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Polk County Superior Court on March 2. Harrington was originally charged with Second Degree Murder in the 2014 death of Elisif Bruun. Bruun died of heroin and cocaine toxicity after receiving the drugs from Harrington inside a greeting card while a patient at the Cooper Riis Psychiatric Treatment Facility in Polk County.

Evidence discovered by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation included a video of Harrington collecting payment for the drugs and his fingerprints and DNA matching that on the packaging of the greeting card. Harrington was sentenced to 29 months in prison.