Should Cornett Face a Stiffer Charge? Was the Teen at Fault?

The arrest and resignation of Bartow Schools vice chairman Angie Cornett has made national headlines—the Today Show aired a segment on it—and stirred a lot conversation.

Folks have opined not only on the incident—Cornett allegedly rammed with her SUV a teen who was saving a parking spot at Walmart in Cartersville—but also on topics ranging from possible anger issues to the rights and wrongs of saving parking spaces. 

"What [Cornett] did was wrong and punishable but if she was a good board member i believe she should have been able to retain her job," commented Cartersville Patch user steve. "i mean my goodness if people can forgive a michael Vick [and] michael jackson what she did was minor in comparison." 

Others aren't so forgiving. The alleged victim, Emily Gulledge, shown in Today Show's report, said Cornett, who has resigned from the school board, should face a tougher criminal charge.

Cornett was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct and bonded out of jail, and others agree it's not enough. Referring to store surveillance footage of the incident, Cartersville Patch user Rufus said, "Isn't that assault with a deadly weapon? You can't do that to people, no matter where they are standing (or even walking) at the time.

Is a misdemeanor or a more serious felony charge appropriate for this incident? Tell us what you think.

"And it is pathetic that there were apparently plenty of spaces around, like the one she ended up parking [in] after almost backing up over the car (SUV) that was behind her."

Bartow County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jonathan Rogers noted in a Wednesday press conference those later movements of Cornett's Lexus, which he said "almost caused a wreck." He added she could face additional charges in connection with allegedly hitting the Bartow County student.

"It is so sad this kind of scrap even happen. The event can't be explained away over a parking place. Right or wrong her actions show she should be charged with assault with a deadly weapon....," Ryan falconer said. "Young people make mistakes and they will learn from them, but only if we show them the right way. This wasn't a good choice. You teach your children how to act by our own actions. [Allegedly] using a car as a weapon isn't ok.!!!!"

Still others lay at least some of the blame on the alleged victim, who has said she was saving the Ailse 5 parking space for a woman who had just given birth.

"the girl shouldn't have thought that it was [acceptable] to run in front of a car to save a spot, Montana Cochran said on our Facebook page. "...and the Board member made an obvious judgment error by [allegedly] ramming her, however I am sure that anyone with half of a brain would have moved when the vehicle didn't stop moving. Still wrong, but I cannot help but question what the teen was thinking."

Was the teen to blame? Should she have tried to saved the parking space? Tell us what you think.

The girl, an Adairsville High School student, 17, was not injured during the incident. Her pants were stained with road grime from Cornett's tire, police say.

"I guess I don't recall being that stupid as a teenager...what gave this girl the right to stand in a parking space and 'save' it? It's a space meant for vehicles, not for people to stand in," said Travis Allen, who later clarified, "I'm not defending the lady who hit the girl, but you have to concede that running to stand in a parking space isn't the brightest thing a person could do."

Tell us what you think, Cartersville! Was the teen to blame for trying to save the parking spot? Should Cornett face an assault or more serious charge or is misdemeanor reckless conduct appropriate?

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Related Content

• Angie Cornett Resigns from the Bartow School Board
• What Are They Saying About Angie Cornett?
• Updated: Walmart Parking Lot Video of School Board Member Released
• School Board Member Arrested After Allegedly Striking Student with SUV
• Ethics Complaint Filed Against School Board Member
• Parent to School Board: 'Embarrassed' by Member's Actions