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Hernando Today

Police: Hernando Teacher Violated Probation

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: March 31, 2009

Updated: 03/31/2009 06:10 pm

BROOKSVILLE - When Shawn Bingham saw the police officers on his doorstep Saturday, he was surprised and disappointed.

"Here we go again," he thought.

Last year, Bingham, a Hernando High School gym teacher, was arrested for driving on a license with a five-year revocation. Previous traffic violations enhanced the charge to a felony.

Bingham's defense was that he believed those past infractions had been cleared up and the revocation lifted. He pleaded no contest in April and was sentenced to a year of probation and 350 hours of community service.

That period of probation was scheduled to end in about two weeks. Bingham said Tuesday he had paid off his fines, completed his service hours and was looking forward to putting this all behind him.

But the law saw his circumstances differently.

On Saturday, Brooksville police arrested Bingham on a felony warrant for violation of probation. His probation officer requested the warrant on the grounds that the service hours were not completed in the time frame provided, according to the sheriff's office.

Bingham said it must have been a miscommunication because he is confident the service hours were completed. He was not informed his probation was violated, otherwise he would have turned himself in.

"It's a lot of pressure on me and my family," said Bingham.

Bingham will remain in the classroom as the district investigates his arrest, said Heather Martin, executive director of business services.

She declined to comment further.

Reporter Tony Marrero contributed to this report.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com

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