VIERA, Fla. — A jury in Brevard County on Tuesday found third-grade teacher Karly Anderson guilty of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence, concluding her trial in connection with a Jan. 19 house party where police say about 200 teens attended and some were drinking alcohol.


What You Need To Know

  • Brevard teacher Karly Anderson found guilty of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence

  • Before that, jurors heard testimony from an officer who responded to a house party

  • Police say about 200 teens attended the party and some were drinking alcohol

  • The defense asked for an acquittal on the misdemeanor charges

Testimony in the case began Tuesday, and the trial proceeded rapidly.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors played the Cocoa Beach Police body cam video of Anderson's interaction with an officer and with first responders on Jan. 19 at the site of the house party. 

Anderson, who taught at Roosevelt Elementary School, and the principal at that school, Elizabeth Hill-Brogdon, initially were arrested and charged with child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of minors. The party was at the home of Hill-Brogdon. Anderson's child neglect charge later was downgraded to disorderly conduct and disorderly intoxication.

Prosecutors said Anderson interjected herself into the situation when police arrived and put a child in danger because she was distracting an officer who was helping a juvenile.

"I had a duty to care for the juvenile and make sure he was safe," said Cocoa Beach Police Cpl. Demetrius Brown, who first encountered Anderson on the scene. "I was in the process of doing that."

In his testimony about his interaction with Anderson, Brown said, "It took my attention away from the juvenile who was placed in the back of my car who I could not see because I was interacting with her."

In the defense's questioning of Brown, the officer said he didn't see Anderson drinking with the teens.

The defense asked for an acquittal on the misdemeanor charges.

Anderson had been facing a charge of disorderly conduct along with the disorderly intoxication and resisting charges, but court records show the prosecutor dropped that charge on Monday.

Anderson was sentenced Tuesday to a year of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay the investigation costs incurred by the Cocoa Beach Police Department, and pay $500 to the Children's Advocacy Center of Brevard.

Additionally, the judge ordered that Anderson would not be able to consume or possess alcohol for six months, and that she would undergo random drug testing for the duration of her supervised probation.

Following her sentencing, Anderson indicated that she planned to appeal her conviction.

Hill-Brodigan, who waived her right to a speedy trial on April 29, is facing charges of felony child neglect, hosting an open house party and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her next court date is scheduled for June 11.