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Former Teacher Pleads Guilty in Robbery Cases Save Email Print
Posted: 7:55 PM Jul 17, 2008
Last Updated: 10:55 AM Jul 18, 2008
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

A | A | A

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A former Charleston middle school teacher pleaded guilty to charges related to two bank robberies that happened back in April.

Police say Melissa Brown helped her brother, Jeremy Brown, rob City National Bank on Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston on April 15.

Then, police say the two robbed the First Sentry Bank in Barboursville a week later.

Thursday, Melissa Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting.

The judge released her on a $10,000 bond. She's now in the custody of her parents in Louisa, Ky. She also will undergo drug testing and have electronic monitoring.

Melissa Brown will be sentenced on October 14.

She was an art teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School before she was terminated in April.

Melissa's brother Jeremy is expected to go on trial August 19.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:00 AM
KD doper was spelled that way for a reason. Hence why I asked what grade you went to and I ment to put it in quotation marks. And if the presidents of the banks take your money you get it back with FDIC. You did say they were insured. These people robbed the banks to get money for drugs from what I understand. So these DOPERS can finally get all this help they need. I do agree with you on some of the parts but for you to say to slap someone on the wrist for this is crazy. Back to education. The girl in all this was a teacher so she did have some knowledge of the order and consequences of this operation and where it would end up. So on paper at least she was smart enough to know this was wrong. This is a little more then just looking down at your speedometer in your car and noticing your accidentally going 5 miles over kind of crime. This was not an accident and she was not exactly playing Robin Hood.

Posted by: teacher on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:27 PM
I guess WV needs to pay their teachers more or this wouldn't happen!!!

Posted by: WOW on Jul 20, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Such a pretty woman - wonder where the courts will say her parents failed her? Society is to blame here for the media being so rude - we sensationalize this kind of journalism and this is why they badger families of not only vitims but those who commit crimes as well. I agree she needs to do the time for the crime but please some of these comments condeming others for their comments is rediculous, you are discouraging people their right to expression.

Posted by: KD on Jul 20, 2008 at 06:04 PM
To Anonymous!! Yes Kd is serious and I did graduate the 6th grade and college and the last time I checked being a "dopper" was not a crime. Use spell check.

Posted by: Robert on Jul 20, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I agree with RoaneCo it doesn't matter what's said on here about the robbers but the way the mother was treated was riduculous. Melissa and Jeremy should be convicted and pay their dues but the mother is innocent. Cathy and Chuck raised these children in a loving, caring, respectable home and they did everything RIGHT. The blame should not be placed on them for what their children have done but these children belong to them and just because they robbed a bank doesn't make their parents stop loving them. They will love them forever no matter what they do so quit bashing on here and think about if it were your child. Cathy and Chuck have been thru enough and have a long road ahead. I still think Dave Benton did wrong and should apoligize to Cathy!

Posted by: shellie on Jul 20, 2008 at 10:08 AM
And we wonder why our children are like they are and have the attitude that they do.. Just look who is teaching them.... Lock her up and take away her license for teaching.... SHE SHOULD BE LOCKED UP JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ROBBER!! There should not be any shorter sentence because of anything, she broke the law, she should pay the price!! THE REASON WE HAVE RULES IS SO THAT EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHER..... AND MAKES IT EQUAL FOR ALL. SO she broke the rules, now she has to suffer the consequences..I think she should get more time added just because she is/was a teacher. She is suppose to be looked up to... But knowing how WV plea deals,, she may get a slap on the wrist, but that just lets someone else think, oh well al she got was.... LOCK HER UP. I bet her parents are so embarrassed! Probably blaming themselves...which is not their fault,, everyone grows up and knows right from wrong!!!!!! LOCK HER & HER BROTHER UP for about 20 years.....

Posted by: green on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Why is everyone acting like robbing a bank isn't a big deal? If she'd helped rob YOUR house I bet you'd be pretty upset about it. "Just a mistake", is just an excuse. "Not herself that day' is a poor excuse. And "at least she kept the drugs away from her work/kids" is just a stupid thing to say. None of these make anyone, including you and I, exempt from the law. It doesn't matter if there are worse crimes or she could have done this or that, what you are forgetting is that STEALING IS WRONG. She should go to jail. I can't understand why anyone would think otherwise. I admit the reporter was agressive and acted badly, but being insensitive currently isn't illegal. You're letting him distract you from what she has done.

Posted by: Richard on Jul 19, 2008 at 08:34 PM
I think that all teachers need to be drug tested

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 19, 2008 at 01:00 PM
This teacher is a woman and if I recall correctly a married WOMAN, she knew what she was doing,so did her brother. THEY ARE NOT KID'S,like the people are calling them who want them to get off scott free. They commited a crime! Treat them like any other Bank Robber's/Thief's who's PARENTS raised them right.? I'm sure other Parents cried for their Adult DAUGHTERS AND SONS who committed crimes! This Teacher WOMANS MOTHER won't be the first or last to cry. Being a Teacher don't make you any better or nicer than anyone else,and it should not be allowed to get you out of CRIMES YOU COMMIT to OTHER'S. Just as being a Judge don't make you any nicer or better than anyone else! Don't blame the Reporter's now! What EXCUSES people will use to get out of crimes they commit. I think about the Parents who has had a child severely injured or murdered because they gave people who commited FELONS a 2nd chance. Tears for these families are FOREVER!!!!

Posted by: RIP on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:49 AM
IS THE TEACHER GOING TO SHOW OTHERS HOW TO paint money! how much time she going to get 30 days?

Posted by: jack on Jul 19, 2008 at 01:31 AM
that reporter did a terrible job, he harrassed that mom, he owes her mom a apology, you could hear the mom crying. how cold hearted to keep badgering the mom who is innocent. i didn't care for this at all. i'll tell you he's sorry, because he should be. please print this comment, you didn't print my last one, i think they call that censorship, i we can't say our opinions then what is the point of having this site?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 19, 2008 at 12:46 AM
KD are you serious? did you even graduate the 6th grade? You have to be a kid on here saying stupid stuff like that. "no harm no foul"? are you kidding? they are doppers. at least this might help them some. but you cant help them for being stupid.

Posted by: kd on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Who cares about a bank robber? Either robbers get the money or the presidents embezzle it so who cares? These are kids they made a mistake give them a chance. I would rather see people rob banks then to sell drugs because drugs affect our children and our whole community. Im sure the banks are insured enough to cover the loss so no harm no foul!! Slap them on the wrist and turn them out that would be more than what is done to child molestors and drug dealers!! Good luck kids.........

Posted by: RoaneCo. on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:12 PM
If anyone wants to know what is wrong with this country just read some of the comments posted on here. I for one don't care if she is pretty, she wasn't herself that day, she is kind and gentle, suffering from PMS or her mommy and daddy are the greatest thing since sliced bread. She helped rob two banks!!! Some of you people act as if she should be given an award. If I had my way the little darling would be standing on a street corner holding a big sign with I'm a teacher, robbing banks is just my hobby written on it.

Posted by: Bill on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Devon are you saying its ok then for her to do drugs as long as its not in school??? i hate to tell you this but any time you do drugs at any place it will have an impact on all the other parts of your life and those around you. I think its funny how i keep seeing people mess up BIG TIME and do really bad crimes and this sayin is almost always seen "well it does not make them a bad person" what the heck people? what makes someone a bad person then??? some of you would take up for satan himself. give me a break. Carrie your right why are they taking up for her and giving the reporter a hard time? from the looks at it he is doing his job and is drug free. i dont think she can say that. and if she is doing drugs then her friends she flocks with are doing them to. thats you people.

Posted by: Trish on Jul 18, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Amanda has a point, you should be able to know the difference between paparazzi and a news reporter. As a society we are WAY too interested in what everyone is doing, when we should be involved in our own community. Ask newsworthy questions not tabloid ones.

Posted by: Carrie on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Why are you people more upset over a reporter than you are at the fact a woman who helped rob a bank has been released into her parents custody. Get your priorities straight, this was a grown woman , she knew what she was doing. She should be sitting in a jail cell right now. So if you're going to get mad, get mad at the justice system for letting her out.

Posted by: annoymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:27 PM
In what chapter of Emily Post would one find proper interiewing techniques for an admitted felon? I happen to bank at First Sentry which means that, in effect, she was a party to stealing from me. I have compassion for those who fall on hard times but not for those who fall on hard times and resort to stealing. Because the mother has stood by her daughter during this humiliating experience does'nt diminish the fact that she is still a felon. The crime is not that they were caught, but the crime itself. Stop making excuses for these people and let them accept the punishment that they have coming to them. What was Dave supposed to do? Ask them if he could buy them coffee and a piece of chocolate pie over at Jim's?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Devon, you are a moron; i will not give credit to anyone who robs a bank. robbing a bank doesn't take guts, it takes stupidity which you obviously also qualify for. robbing a bank is illegal regardless of your occupation but saying "she kept everything she was doing out of the classroom" is just ridiculous. would you be saying the same thing if she has murdered someone. "oh, it's ok guys, she didn't kill the guy at school so give her a break and give her some credit." give me a break Devon and grow up.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 03:09 PM
in response to "mollie", the reporter is Dave Benton, it has his name right on the video.

Posted by: Jill on Jul 18, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Foxy, I hope you realize that it is NOT a reporter's job to harass. As a reporter you give EVERYONE an opportunity to comment, but you also realize when they decide NOT to speak. I agree that as a teacher, she was not a good role model, but I also believe that the reporter did not represent the news channel with very much class either. I just think that as a society we have forgotten there is a line that separates our rights from others, right and wrong, and what is our business and what is not. It IS our business when a teacher is charged with a crime, it is NOT our business to know personal reasons, feelings, etc. Look at our celebrities, we wonder why they have gotten so crazy with the paparazzi, well I think we all need to look in the mirror with our society's obsession with knowing what everyone else is doing and not with our children and our own problems. Maybe we should more time dealing with our own lives and not be so interested in everyone else's. Just my opinion.

Posted by: WitchChick on Jul 18, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I'm having a hard time with the comments by Ruth. Brutalizing? Appalling? Lost faith in WSAZ? Come on, Dave Benton didn't commit the crime, he did what he was paid to do...follow a newsworthy story and question the defendant, she admitted guilt, afterall. If she wanted to be treated nicely she should never have committed a FELONY! I can't believe anyone with an education would think others could accept her story that she thought her brother was "cashing a check". Geeze!

Posted by: Ari on Jul 18, 2008 at 01:46 PM
OH PEOLPE GET OVER IT!. Wow a reporter was in her face, ewww it's so bad. I guess she deserves some privacy nd respect.....she is a felon. I would like to know the answer to all the questions he was asking

Posted by: Karen on Jul 18, 2008 at 01:17 PM
I completely agree with this person: Posted by: Ruby on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:49 PM. I now live out of state but I always follow the news back here, and this is a terrible news broadcasting!

Posted by: Addiction counselor on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM
to Devon: So its ok for me to go out and get trashed as long as I clean up for work on Monday. Are you kidding? You must be SICK.

Posted by: barbra on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:54 PM
The reporter did not do anything wrong. Quit trying to make him the bad person here. In fact, I thought he did an excellent job and asked the right questions.

Posted by: WV on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:35 PM
COME ON PEOPLE! EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES. THOSE WHO SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOR LIFE AND BURN IN HELL ARE THOSE WHO TORTURE CHILDREN. REPEAT OFFENDERS SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOR LIFE, BUT THIS TEACHER IS NOT A REPEAT OFFENDER. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PUTTING HER DOWN GET A LIFE , FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR TIME OTHER THAN THIS WEB-SITE.

Posted by: J on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Mollie, the reporter was Dave Benton.

Posted by: Sarah on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:24 AM
To Ruby: You must not watch much of the news if this was the worst reporting you've ever seen. Please attempt to take a little more time out of your day and watch other news shows. I promise, this looked mild in comparison.

Posted by: Amanda on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Wow,did this reporter take lessons from the paparazzi? I really think there is a better way to "interview" people than to harass them. I know people will say that criminals should be questioned, etc. However, her mother hasn't committed any crime and she is probably the one who is taken the burden of her children's actions. Any mother out there can only imagine what she must be going through. Then to have a callous reporter asking her stupid questions like, "Is Jeremy your son?" Incredible! Also, I wonder how the reporter would have felt if she would have collapsed or something. We all know that stress contributes to a multitude of health problems. I am also surprised that the news station posted this footage. What could they have hoped it would prove to their viewers? That they had no compassion and would get the story no matter what? Well, to this viewer, it proved that this station lacks adequate training on interview techniques and the class to know when enough is enough.

Posted by: Robert on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I just watched the video and I am appalled. That reporter is clueless. 5Min of badgering Melissa and Kathy. He should have gotten the hint in 2 questions. I will never watch WSAZ again and this is my last time on this web site. Yes, Melissa and Jeremy made a mistake and they will pay for that mistake. But there is no reason to humilate their parents. Kathy and Chuck are 2 very upstanding, nice, caring, sympathetic people who do not deserve that kind of treatment. You don't see the reporters running down the streets trying to get questions answered from the child abusers or murderes. If I had been in Kathy's shoes that day I would have been arrested for assault because I would have busted that reporters face after about question 5 and it would have been on camera so he would have really gotten a story. But that goes to show what kind of character Kathy is...not a word was said...she's too good for that. God be with the Brown family. You will be in my prayers!

Posted by: Feel Sorry For Ruby on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM
To RUBY July 17 @ 11:49pm: There was no one "screaming" questions at anyone. Dave Benton is there to ask the questions we cannot, but want the answers to. He did a wonderful job of asking a different question each time. He did not scream or even raise his voice. Should he have patted her a-- all the way around the block instead? What do you think reporters are there for? You and people like you are what's wrong with our society. In my experience as an investigator there are two kinds of people who do not do well with fast firing questions: Those who are a little "slow" shall we say and those who are GUILTY. To be honest they usually go hand in hand! When will people learn there are consequences for our actions? There are consequences for our actions. There are consequences for our actions. Am I getting thru to you yet Ruby? Wake up Dear.

Posted by: foxy on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:57 AM
it seemed to me as though the reporter was just DOING HIS JOB...you know..J.O.B...if you do the crime, do the time...this was a teacher that I assume that some kids looked up to. what a failure she was to their emotions. she needs to grow up...maybe she will maybe she won't, but when she does another crime, I hope that a reporter is there to LET HER MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.....her students might need closure on this, she is not letting them have.

Posted by: Amy on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Leave the reporter alone, maybe he's new or maybe He thinks its neat that a teacher robbed a bank. It is sort of interesting. lol

Posted by: Taste Tester on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:20 AM
She drove the getaway car in two or maybe more BANK ROBBERIES! Come on judge, give her a bigger bond. Another news story on her said she didn't know what her brother was doing. Yeah, right! She knew what she was doing. I heard from some witnesses how she shot across traffic to pickup brother as he ran out the door and he had his head wrapped up, almost caused wrecks and sped away. LOCK 'EM UP for LIFE!

Posted by: cc on Jul 18, 2008 at 06:21 AM
bank robbery bet she will get a light sentence maybe suspended , she is good looking that always go's a long way with judges and prosicutors

Posted by: terry on Jul 18, 2008 at 05:24 AM
Did you still get your raise? if not, contacy your union. remember, no teacher left behind....

Posted by: na on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:33 AM
Why do people keep defending her by saying she didnt take it to the class room and it didnt interfere with her students?? The kids have been taught by someone they looked up to that its ok to rob banks and do drugs correct? Yeah she took it to class alright and it DOES affect her students. Real smart lady isnt she, NOT! I guess now she can sit home and blame it all on poo lil bro,he made me do it!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:50 AM
In response to "A teacher? No wander our kids don't know right from wrong anymore. The people that they should be able to look up to does stupid stuff like this." Why don't parents open their eyes and see that they are the reason why kids are they way they are today...it's not the teachers, it is the parents turning a blind eye and wanting to blame everyone else for their childrens shortfalls and mishaps.

Posted by: Mollie on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Could someone please tell me who that reporter was questioning this teacher?

Posted by: Vicky on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:58 PM
My love and prayers are with you. We know this is a difficult time but truly things will get better. We all make mistakes, noone is perfect and that is why we all should have compassion when someone stumbles. We all love you and your family dearly and your whole family has spend years being the kindest, gentleless people on earth. This error does not erase all those years of being wonderful people. This is just one stumble and we all make mistakes, some of ours are not as public as others but we all make them. Remember the saying, " Those who matter won't mind and those who mind don't matter." We all love you!!

Posted by: Ruby on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:49 PM
This was the absolute worse case of reporting I have ever saw! It made me uncomfortable to watch! I always thought this station had integrity and I know obtaining the news is important but this was more like trash journalism with the way the reporter screamed questions at these people. I have lost faith in this station and I think it will forever make people wonder if the news they are viewing was brutilized out of the people they are interviewing instead of being an accurate betrayal of the facts! I expected more from this station! I always thought your reporters acted professionally but this was terrible! The people I have spoken with agree we will be flipping channels at newstime from now on without this reporters action is addressed and dealt with. This was appalling!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:46 PM
no that reporter needs to be in her face so we can all see the idiot. oh my don't show my face so maybe i can get another job in the school system NOT!

Posted by: slim on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:08 PM
wow out on bond 10,000 so really got out on bond $1,000 bond WOW get caught selling a lil bit of drugs they give you 200,000 $ bond rob to banks and get out on 1 stack,quit sellin drugs and start robbing banks,,,,,,,,,,,whats even more funny she took a plea and brother is takin it to trial she straight up snitched her brother out like might as well take a plea now cause yo sis bout to take the stand on ya,lol

Posted by: anon on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:05 PM
What about her brother? She seems to be placing the blame on him. Why is he still sitting in jail while she is home?

Posted by: Devon on Jul 17, 2008 at 06:00 PM
yeah that reporter really needs to lay off of her.didnt he get she wasnt gonna answer?itd be funny to be on the street and see that cuz its only one reporter makin a huge deal out of it! anyways,just because shes a teacher doesnt mean she needs the extra attention,criticism,or even punishment.she kept everything she was doing out of the classroom.and if she was doing drugs,she never brought it in to the school,and it didnt interfere with the schooling-UNTIL everyone (news stations,angry parent etc.)made it a huge deal.leave her alone she made a crazy bad mistake.do you think you would have the AHEM* guts...to rob a bank randomly?i give the girl credit.

Posted by: sickofreporters on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:37 PM
That reporter needs to get out of their faces!!

Posted by: Brian on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:07 PM
I wonder what they think of No Child Left Behind

Posted by: Tara on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:05 PM
I'm glad it has worked so she can home ..Melissa if u read this call me....

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Anonymous Melissa We be praying for you & family you really wasn't yourself that day.

Posted by: Mark on Jul 17, 2008 at 02:38 PM
What was she thinking? Granted, education salaries suck, but, you don't rob two banks! Her and her brother have ruined their lives. I feel sorry for her parents that have to endure the embarassment and disappointment of having 2 felons in the family. What a mess!

Posted by: Sickofrobbers&drugs on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Way to go Melissa!! You have made your Parents proud. We knew you were guilty from the beginning. Glad it has all has come out in the light now. Prime example of why Teachers need to be screened for drugs. When will they stop acting like it's just the kids that do drugs??? Thank you for giving West Virginia another "look ya'll" moment in the news media.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:36 AM
A teacher? No wander our kids don't know right from wrong anymore. The people that they should be able to look up to does stupid stuff like this.

Posted by: $$$$$ on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:33 AM
SHE DID THE CRIME NOW DO THE TIME!HAPPY DAY

Posted by: charleston on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:00 PM
what are you talking about. It says nothing about a vigil.

Posted by: anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:24 PM
why would he get a candlelight vigil if he was not murdered?

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