The Cherokee County grand jury indicted Nancy Cheek and Laurie Peavy this week on false imprisonment charges for their alleged role in abusing special education students at Woodstock High School.
The grand jury indicted Randall Thaxton, who originally was also arrested for dog fighting, on charges of animal cruelty and drug possession.
District Attorney Garry Moss said Wednesday that he will not pursue dog fighting charges against Thaxton, who was arrested in October 2008 after a two-week joint investigation in Cherokee and Gilmer counties.
Thaxton, 45, of Union Hill was indicted on three counts of animal cruelty for causing "unjustifiable physical pain" to American pit bull terriers. The dogs, all juveniles, were found on collars and chains weighing between 4.6 and 8.8 pounds.
Thaxton also was indicted on possession of more than an ounce of marijuana.
He was originally arrested by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office on the drug charge as well as 10 counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of felony dog fighting.
Investigators said dogs found at Thaxton's home bore scars and other injuries that appeared to be the result of dog fighting.
Thaxton's family has denied his involvement in dog fighting, contending he raised pit bulls for dog shows instead.
Ms. Peavy, 45, a teacher, and Ms. Cheek, 50, a paraprofessional teacher, both of Woodstock, were arrested in May for allegedly abusing two of their students.
Ms. Peavy was arrested by the sheriff's office on two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. She was accused of duct-taping a 17-year-old autistic boy to a chair and confining a 17-year-old blind girl under a desk. Ms. Cheek was arrested on one count of each crime for aiding in the abuse.
The grand jury indicted both women on two counts of false imprisonment.
The incidents happened sometime in the spring of 2008, according to the sheriff's office, but were not reported until May.
Both students, who were 18 at the time of the arrests, suffered no physical injuries from the alleged abuse, police said.
Ms. Cheek resigned from the Cherokee County School District in August.
Ms. Peavy had been recommended for termination by county Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo.
Her termination hearing has been continued at the request of her attorney, officials said, but she is on leave without pay.
EDITOR'S NOTE: There is no error in the dates. The incidents were reported in May of last year. The Tribune uses Associated Press style, which calls for months within the previous calendar year to be noted by month only, which is why the story states May.