CLARK COUNTY — UPDATE @ 1:00p.m. (Nov. 22):
Kristine Baggs, a Kenton Ridge High School science teacher, has been put on paid administrative suspension according to Northeastern School District officials Wednesday after making her first court appearance.
Baggs is facing charges related to a deadly hit and run pedestrian accident that killed Lawrence Mason, 45, of Medway, in September 2016.
The Ohio Attorney General prosecutor on the case against Baggs spoke about the charges filed against the educator in court Wednesday.
“These are very serious charges,” prosecutor Leigh Bayer said.
She asked the court to handle Kristine Baggs’ case like the court has handled similar cases in Clark County.
"There was a victim who died as a result of being hit by a car driven by Ms. Baggs," Bayer said in court. "And the car was hidden from view several days afterward."
She also asked that Baggs not be allowed in any establishment that serves alcohol as a condition of her bond.
Baggs doesn’t admit to the allegations, her defense attorney Richard Mayhall said in court. He asked the court to release her on her own recognizance bond.
“She has been employed as a teacher in Clark County for the last 15 years,” Mayhall said. “She’s married, she has two children, she has no prior record. Since this incident occurred nearly 15 months ago, she has had no other allegations.”
A magistrate set Baggs’ bond at $100,000.
UPDATE @ 12:00 p.m. (Nov. 22):
Kristine Baggs, a Kenton Ridge High School science teacher, has been put on paid administrative suspension according to Northeastern School District officials Wednesday.
Baggs made her first court appearance Wednesday morning on charges related to a deadly hit and run pedestrian accident that killed Lawrence Mason, 45, of Medway, in September 2016.
UPDATE @ 10:57 a.m. (Nov. 22):
Kristine M. Baggs appeared in court Wednesday morning for her arraignment.
Baggs pleaded not guilty and bond was set at $100,000.
UPDATE @ 6:53 a.m. (Nov. 21)
Our newsroom is working to gather more information on the arrest of Kristine M. Baggs, 40, of Springfield. She was booked into Clark County Jail Monday afternoon around 5 p.m.
She is listed as a teacher in family and consumer science at Kenton Ridge High School. She made $52,788 in 2016, according to the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun Payroll Project.
EARLIER REPORT (Nov. 20)
A Northeastern School District teacher has been indicted in a deadly hit and run pedestrian accident that killed a man standing on North Tecumseh Road in Bethel Twp. last year.
Kristine Baggs is charged with failure to stop after an accident, tampering with evidence and two counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to the Clark County Common Pleas Court website.
Lawrence J. Mason, 45, of Medway was struck and killed by a silver 2015 Dodge Durango in September 2016, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol crash report. The vehicle and driver left the scene, according to investigators.
The vehicle was later traced to the Baggs family, and Mason's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
Baggs was arrested Monday afternoon, more than a year after the deadly accident.
"I'm hoping the family may have some justice for their loved one with Ms. Baggs going to jail for this indictment and charges," said Lt. Brian Aller, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Springfield post.
Kristine Baggs is a teacher in the Northeastern School District, Superintendent John Kronour said.
Kronour said he couldn't comment until he knows more about the situation.
She hasn't been suspended or put on leave at this time.
"Not yet, but I anticipate that might be forthcoming," Kronour said.
