Craig Fults discovers latest charges watching TV
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“Can they do that?” Fults questioned Saturday morning, pointing out he did not believe his case would come before the Rutherford County grand jury for at least another month. “I was never informed and you can imagine my surprise when I looked up and there I was on television.”
Fults was indicted on five counts of rape, which carries eight to 12 years, 20 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, which carries three to six years, and 20 counts of statutory rape, which carries one to two years.
The indictments come for his alleged inappropriate contact with a 16-year-old Murfreesboro boy, contact lawmen claim occurred over a two-year period while Fults was a teacher and coach at Barfield Elementary in Murfreesboro. The victim was a student at another school in Rutherford County who investigators say Fults had befriended.
During an interview Saturday morning, Fults continued to maintain his innocence and remained confident he will be exonerated when the case goes to trial.
However, given the fact he has no prior criminal record and no prior arrests, Fults said he is confused by the system and the timing of his indictments. Adding to the confusion, Fults said, is that he had been unable to reach his attorney as of Saturday morning.
“Are they going to come get me or what do they do when a person is indicted?” Fults wondered, expressing concern over a change in his bond status because of the indictments. As of Saturday morning, he had not been formally served with the indictments.
Fults has been free on bond since shortly following his arrest. He remains on suspended status from his teaching job. He will be arraigned on the charges later this month.
While defendants, their attorneys and/or defense witnesses are sometimes given an opportunity to address the grand jury, the grand jury law provides no right for the defendant or counsel to appear during proceedings. Instead, grand jury proceedings generally involve hearing only the prosecution’s side of the case and then jurors decide if there is probable cause to have the case sent to circuit court for trial.
Fults admitted the additional charges of statutory rape and sexual battery by an authority figure came as a surprise since he was originally arrested on five counts of rape. The final 40 charges came during grand jury action.