November 19--  The jury in the Carrie O'Connor sex case in Montgomery County should begin deliberations Thursday.  O'Connor is the former high school counselor accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student nearly two years ago.

After hearing two days of testimony, the jury may be faced with a "he said, she said" situation as it decides if the state met its burden of proving O'Connor guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The defense wrapped up its case Thursday afternoon with testimony from Carrie O'Connor and her nearly 15-year-old daughter, Catlyn.  O'Connor explained how her family had befriended the family of Fabian Pineda, that his sisters often visited her home in Uvalda, and that he also visited occasionally.  She denied having sex with the boy, and also said many of the text messages submitted as evidence by the state were actually sent to Pineda by her daughter using O'Connor's cell phone.

The girl reported a relationship with Pineda starting before the allegations about her mother surfaced in early 2007.  Catlyn said it never went past the "peck on the cheek" stage and testfied to frequent conversations, text messages, and long phone calls with the boy.  She told the jury she's never been interviewed by the GBI or any other law enforcement agency. 

The state claims Carrie O'Connor sent a text to Pineda picturing a bed with the caption "Wish You Were Here."  She denies sending the text.  She also questions the composition of an incriminating audio tape which the state used to revoke her bond and send her to jail last Summer.

Catlyn's mother and father are involved in a divorce and are battling each other for custody of their two children.  Carrie O'Connor filed for the divorce in January, 2007.  In February, a meeting was held at her parent's Uvalda home to mediate an agreement and possibly save the marriage.  At that meeting, her husband, Ladson, insisted on full custody of the children and, according to Carrie, made threatening remarks and said he would do "whatever it takes."

In March, a cousin of Pineda told school teacher Chris Bowman Pineda was concerned because Pineda expected to be called as a witness in the O'Connor divorce case. Bowman taped a conversation in which Pineda claimed to have had sex with O'Connor and that started the chain of events which led to her indictment.

The trial is being watched closely.  Lawyers involved in civil suits growing out of this case have been in the courtroom taking notes and watching both sides as they try to make their cases.