A Fulton County magistrate judge who granted bond to a former Atlanta Public Schools band director accused of repeatedly having sex with a student has been temporarily pulled off all criminal cases, Channel 2 Action News reported.
John DeFoor was criticized by his boss, Chief Magistrate Judge Cassandra Kirk, and Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard after letting the band teacher out of jail on a $100,000 signature bond last month.
RELATED: Former band director accused of having sex with student released from jail
Jovan Salon Burton, the 35-year-old band director at the Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, was arrested in February and charged with sexual assault by a teacher for allegedly having sex with a female student.
The student told a teacher at her school that she and Burton had sex about six times, including on campus in the band room and in the band director’s car.
DeFoor released Burton from jail last month at the urging of the student victim, who is now 18, Channel 2 reported.
Howard told the news station he was surprised by the judge’s decision.
“His own wife stated that she didn’t want him to return to her home,” he said.
Kirk said Tuesday that she launched an investigation into DeFoor, telling Channel 2 that she “wanted to make it clear that this was very serious.”
She said he has been pulled off Burton’s case and all other criminal cases until he completes training courses.
Though she didn’t agree with the judge’s decision to release Burton, Kirk said it is normal for judges to listen to victims during cases.
“I’d rather you get additional guidance than make a bad decision,” she said. “And I’m not saying this was a bad decision, but this is a decision that’s been highly criticized.”
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