Clayton News Daily

By Linda Looney-Bond

lbond@news-daily.com

A North Clayton High School physical education teacher faces a felony, aggravated stalking charge in Clayton County Superior Court.

The case against Derrick Jackson, 50, of Riverdale, was bound over Tuesday after his court-appointed attorney, Thomas Stewart, waived a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court. Jackson did not appear in court.

Jackson is in the Clayton County jail, pending a bond hearing. He was arrested March 10, and charged with violating the terms of a temporary protective order (TPO) issued Sept. 30, 2008.

The warrant for his arrest alleges that Jackson violated the TPO by attempting to contact, by telephone, a woman covered under the protective order.

Jackson also sent flowers, and a six-page letter to the woman's employer, according to the warrant.

The flowers were in a vase with the word "love" written on it, and the letter appeared to apologize for threats made during the course of his relationship with the woman, the court documents say.

Jackson, who was a North Clayton High School assistant basketball coach, has been employed by the school system since August 2007, according to a school system spokesman.

He was put on administrative leave without pay while school officials conduct their own investigation into the matter, the spokesman said.

Jackson has a bond hearing scheduled for March 27.