Duane Sanders
A Criminal Court jury on Thursday night found former Wallace A. Smith Elementary teacher Duane Sanders guilty on all counts.
Sanders, 47, was found guilty of aggravated rape, seven counts of continuous abuse of a child, and seven counts of aggravated sexual battery. Aggravated rape carries a penalty of 15-60 years.
Immediately after the guilty verdicts, Sanders was handcuffed and taken for transport to the county jail. He had been free on bond.
He will be sentenced on Aug. 26 by Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.
The jury deliberated over an hour on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Parents of the first graders were on one side of the crowded courtroom for the verdicts, while the family of Sanders was on the other.
Sanders had been charged in connection with nine first grade male students.
The jury heard from both students and parents with testimony that Sanders had put children in his lap and molested them.
District Attorney Coty Wamp called the seven boys who testified "The Heroic Seven."
She said, "Tonight, a Hamilton County jury returned a verdict in the most profound criminal trial that I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of.
"Seven young boys, who had the misfortune of being in Duane Sanders’ first grade class, took a witness stand to speak their truth. Seven young boys had the courage to look their abuser in the eye and tell a jury of 12 strangers what that monster did to them. Seven young boys marched into a courtroom full of people and
became the heroes of their own story. They were articulate, kind, respectful, honest, and strong. None of them wavered. None of them hesitated. Absolutely iconic.
"The parents of each of the boys had to decide whether they would allow their child to participate in the prosecution. It was left up to them. A decision that no parent ever contemplates having to make. And now there are few people that I admire more than the mothers and fathers of the heroic seven. They stuck with us for over two years. They stayed the course. They relentlessly supported their children. To their parents, thank you.
"And then there are the prosecutors. The trial team poured their hearts and souls into this case for the past two years. Prosecutors Stephani Brown, Nicole Evans, and Roger Layne were successful on this case because they cared so much. They didn’t want to just try the case… they wanted to be a part of the story of the heroic seven. They wanted the boys to feel safe. They worked hard to earn the trust of each child. Prosecuting isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. Thank you, Stephani, Nicole, and Roger for caring so much about justice for the boys.
"Rose Kehinde is my lead victim/witness coordinator who walked alongside the families from day one. Trial wouldn’t have been possible without the attention and care she gave to each family and each little boy. She was made to be an advocate for victims and I am so grateful for her passion.
"If you know me, you know I don’t like to focus on defendants. My office works hard for victims, not defendants. But this defendant deserves a special shoutout. Duane Sanders preyed on little boys in the worst way possible. He was in a position of trust. He reeled them in. He manipulated them. He tricked them. And then he took advantage of them.
But Duane Sanders messed with the wrong little boys.
"It doesn’t matter how much time, how many resources, how many hours, how many days of trial, or how many prosecutors it takes… if you prey on our kids you will find yourself exactly where Duane Sanders is tonight."