Accused Dougherty teacher will be fired Mosely says

ALBANY — For all practical purposes, Brian Owen Brannen has been fired from his job as an eighth grade history teacher, according to Dougherty County School superintendent David Mosely. He says Brannen will be terminated as soon as he is released from the Dougherty County jail.

Brannen was arrested on April 4 after sheriff’s deputies said a search of his residence showed child pornography on his home computer. Mosely said that because of the sensitive nature of Brannen’s teaching position, Brannen has been placed on administrative leave without pay, and will be presented with a letter of termination when he is bonded out of jail.

“When we issue the termination letter there has to be a meeting of the School Board within 10 days,” Mosely said. “Our attorney has advised us that (Brannen) might possibly be unable to attend that meeting, so that’s why we’re waiting.”

Brannen, formerly an eighth grade teacher at Radium Springs Middle School, was charged initially with one count of sexual exploitation of children. The Dougherty County Sheriff Office’s Capt. Craig Dodd said an examination of Brannen’s computer by forensic experts has since brought the number of felony exploitation charges to 24.

In addition, Brannen has been charged with two counts of possession of drug related objects for two suspected marijuana pipes found at his residence. While Brannen has not been charged with firearms violations for a .357 revolver also discovered, that could change pending a report by the Bureaus of Alchol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Dodd said. According to Dodd, Brannen could possibly bond out of jail when all the charges against him are complete.