WHITESBURG – A former Magoffin County Schools teacher is set to head back to trial in June.
Anthony Taulbee, 49, of Middle Fork Road, in Salyersville, appeared in Letcher County Circuit Court on Wednesday, April 2 for a pretrial hearing in his Magoffin County case, in which he is charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree rape, both Class D felonies. Special Judge James W. Craft set his jury trial for June 16, to be held in the Knott County Circuit Courtroom.
Last month Taulbee was the defendant in a similar trial in Johnson County, facing two counts of third-degree rape (Class D felonies) and third-degree sodomy (Class D felony), with the jury inevitably finding him not guilty of the charges after a two-day trial.
Taulbee was first indicted in Magoffin County Circuit Court in July 2023 and charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree rape, both Class D felonies.
According to the indictment, on or about March 1 through June 1, 2018, Taulbee allegedly subjected another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.
On or about March 1 through August 12, 2018, he is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with another person less than 18 years old and while he was a person in a position of authority or special trust.
In 2018 when the crimes were alleged to have occurred, Taulbee was employed by Magoffin County Schools and was a high school criminal justice teacher.
Taulbee is currently out on bond.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
