JeffCo Schools Personnel Director Faces Federal Child-Porn Charges
The legal picture for Jefferson County Schools’ jailed human resources director has become even darker. Brett William Kirkham already faces charges that include having sex with a student. Now he faces federal child-pornography charges too. Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, today announced the indictment against Kirkham, a longtime area educator.
He’d recently asked to have his $500,000 bail lowered so he could be free while awaiting trial on sex and child-porn charges stemming from Jefferson County and Tuscaloosa County. Those allegations include a years-long sexual relationship with a then-minor male student.
The human resources director and former middle-school principal is on administrative leave and now faces four federal counts too: one count of coercion and enticement, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. Kirkham could face a maximum of life in prison and $1,000,000 in fines. He’s scheduled for arraignment in federal court August 11.
The FBI, Tuscaloosa Police, and Hueytown Police investigated the case. Local prosecutors have described Kirkham as a predator. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. A spokesperson for Jefferson County Schools said she could not comment on the ongoing case.
Hollywood stars boycott Israeli film companies in response to Gaza crisis
Emma Stone, Ava DuVernay and Gael Garcia Bernal are among more than 2,000 who signed the petition.
What will happen to dance, with a major grant program changing?
Twenty dance projects from around the country won grants totaling $100,000 dollars each today. These grants are among the most coveted in the dance world, but this round of winners is the last of its kind due to a funding shortage.
Supreme Court will weigh in on Trump’s tariffs. Here’s what to know about the case
Two lower courts have said some of President Trump's tariffs are unlawful. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to examine the issue.
Iran and the IAEA are expected to resume cooperation under agreement backed by Egypt
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed an agreement in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including on ways of relaunching inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Birmingham youth choir returns to the stage after golden buzzer moment
The Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Choir returns to NBC's "America's Got Talent" Tuesday evening after having won one of the show's golden buzzers earlier this summer.
The MAHA plan for healthier kids includes 128 ideas, but few details
The Make America Healthy Again commission is proposing more than 100 moves to address the root causes of childhood chronic disease. Critics say other Trump administration moves contradict the goals.
