Former Lee High School assistant vice principal denies sex charges made by former student

Eason

HUNTSVILLE, Al.
A former Lee High School student told a jury this morning that he had several sexual encounters on school property with the school's former assistant principal, Cleavon Eason, over about a year's time in 2006 and 2007.
Eason, 40, also testified today, and in a generally calm but sometimes indignant tone, flatly denied the student's claims against him.
The student, who was 15 and a sophomore when the alleged incidents started, testified against Eason in his trial on sodomy and sexual abuse charges in Madison County Circuit Judge Ruth Ann Hall's courtroom. The prosecution finished its case early this afternoon and the defense may rest when the case resumes at 9 a.m.
The student, who is now 20 and a senior in college, testified the encounters involved fondling and oral sex and took place in Eason's assistant principal's office and in the school's bathrooms.
Eason testified that his schedule as an assistant principal was too full, with too many people in and out of his office for such encounters to have ever taken place.
Eason was arrested in September of 2007 by Huntsville police on charges of first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse after the student's parents filed a complaint.
A Lee High School counselor testified the student seemed to undergo some personality changes during the year the alleged encounters took place.
Several former and current Lee High School employees testified for the defense. They said Eason, a Huntsville native who attended Lee, had a good reputation among school employees.
Two of the Lee defense witnesses testified that the student suggested he would make millions of dollars as a result of the claims against Eason.
Belinda Woods, who has worked security at Lee for several years, said she ran into the student the day Eason was arrested. She said the student was happy and laughing and told her that he was going to hook her up, because he was about to "get paid millions."
Woods testified she asked the student where the money would come from, but he declined to tell her. Then he told Woods, according to her testimony, "Just watch the news.'"
In his testimony, the student denied ever talking about making money in connection with the charges.
In opening arguments, Madison County Assistant District Attorney Jason Scully-Clemmons said Eason "exploited and abused his position of authority" over the student "at a time the defendant (Eason) had correctional control over" him. Scully-Clemmons is prosecuting the case with Assistant District Attorney Melvin Lockett.
Eason's attorney, Bruce Gardner, told the jury none of the alleged sexual encounters took place.
Former Huntsville Police Department investigator Chet Williams, who handled the case, is serving in Afghanistan and was not available to testify.
Eason is on paid administrative leave from the city school system.
The defense has not yet rested, but opening arguments are expected to begin Wednesday morning.