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Teacher Arrested In Century Allowed to Resign
December 18, 2007
The Escambia County School Board voted not to accept Superintendent recommendation that James “Benny” Washington, former coach of the Woodham High School basketball program, be fired. Instead, they voted to accept his resignation Tuesday night.
Washington was arrested March 8 in Century on drug possession charges; he later agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program.
District 5 School Board Member Pete Gindhl and Board Chairwoman Patty Hightower were on the losing side of the vote to fire Washington and the vote to accept his resignation. Both motions failed 3-2.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Ellis Smallwood found a small piece of powder cocaine, a marijuana cigarette and rolling papers during a traffic stop on North Century Boulevard near Ranch Road, according to court papers.
Washington was clocked by Smallwood on radar at 41 mph in a 35 mph zone. Washington then pulled into the parking lot of the Century Burger King, before entering the highway again and being stopped by the deputy, according to testimony. Smallwood testified that he smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana and air freshener upon making the traffic stop, prompting the search.
Washington’s attorney, Barry Beroset, argued that the traffic stop and resulting search were illegal. Circuit Judge Michael Allen did not agree, and refused to throw out the charges back in September.
The Escambia County School Board suspended Washington without pay from his teaching position at Woodham after his arrest. He was fired as Woodham’s basketall coach after being suspended by the Florida High School Athletic Association after allegedly making a racist remark toward black official. He publicly denied that claim. He had served as basketball coach for the Titans for 18 years. Woodham has since became a middle school.
The one felony and two misdemeanor charges against Washington will be dropped by state prosecutors if he completes the yearlong program of community service, random drug test and substance abuse counseling.
Pictured above: Washington, with his sons at his side, addresses the Escambia County School Board Tuesday night.
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