Westmoore Teacher Accused Of Hosting Student Drinking Party Sentenced

New details in the case against a former Westmoore High School employee accused of hosting a drinking party for students.

Thursday, September 12th 2013, 7:26 pm

By: News 9


New details in the case against a former Westmoore High School employee accused of hosting a drinking party for students.

News 9 first brought you the story in April 2013. Soon after, prosecutors charged former cheer advisor Courtney Hatchell with the crime.

A Cleveland County judge found her guilty last week of hosting the underage drinking party. Hatchell did not admit to or deny what prosecutors say happened inside her southwest Oklahoma City home.

The state accused her of giving drugs and alcohol to a group of Westmoore cheerleaders in April 2013. Hatchell was employed as a teacher and a leader of the cheer team at the time. She resigned shortly after police began investigating the allegations.

Parents complained she not only provided the alcohol, but also encouraged the teenagers to drink saying, "If anyone was to get in trouble, they all would get in trouble."

As it turns out, Hatchell was the only person punished when cell phone video of the cheerleaders drinking in her home and this phone call surfaced,

Hatchell: "I'm just asking if you can just work with me on this so that we can overcome it."

Parent: "What are you wanting me to [do], say it didn't happen?"

Hatchell: "If you can help me get out of this situation ... if it goes bad then I'm facing jail time."

Prosecutors charged Hatchell with two misdemeanors: one for giving the kids alcohol and the other for allowing them to drink it. Both crimes carry up to a year in jail as punishment, but Hatchell made a deal with prosecutors. She's now on two years probation. During that time, she must complete 40 hours of community service, a drug and alcohol evaluation, and 10 sessions with a counselor.

6/10/2013 Related Story: Former Westmoore HS Employee Charged Following Drinking Party

News 9 asked to speak with Hatchell, but her attorney Irven Box denied our request, at this time.

Although Hatchell resigned from Westmoore High School, News 9 found out she still has her teaching license. The Oklahoma Department of Education said it has not revoked her license and News 9's inquiry was the first they've heard of this case.

We reached out to several of the cheer parents, all of whom turned down an on-camera interview. They did, however, express their disappointment in Hatchell getting a deferred sentence and still holding a teaching license.

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