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Jury selected in Brevard County 'party teacher' trial

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Published  May 5, 2025 6:23pm EDT
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando
Jury selected in trial of Brevard County 'party teacher'

Jury selected in trial of Brevard County 'party teacher'

A jury has been selected in the trial of the Brevard County teacher who was caught at a house party with high school students and got belligerent with law enforcement while they were trying to help one of the teens. FOX 35's Esther Bower has the latest from the courthouse.

The Brief

    • Jury selection began Monday for the trial of Karly Anderson, a teacher accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. 
    • Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. 
    • The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.

Jury selected, opening statements start Tuesday

What we know:

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - The teacher accused of attending an underage house party is off to trial. On Monday, jurors met for hours and were questioned by the state, the defendant’s attorney and the judge.

Several were dismissed because they already knew about the case from social media and news coverage. Six people were selected to serve on the jury.

The defendant, Karly Anderson, is facing two misdemeanor charges including disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence. On Monday morning, the state decided not to pursue the third charge of disorderly conduct.

RELATED ARTICLE: Brevard County teacher pulled from classroom over drunken house party investigations

Opening statements start on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. at the Viera courthouse.

The state plans to bring two EMTs as witnesses who were there the night of the alleged house party in January.

Will Anderson testify in her own trial?

What we don't know:

We don’t know who the defense will bring up for witnesses or if Anderson will testify in her own trial.

The trial could wrap on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how long the jury needs to deliberate.

Brevard School Board member speaks on misbehaving teachers

Brevard School Board member speaks on misbehaving teachers

Brevard Public Schools District 4 School Board Member Matt Susin joins FOX 35 to talk about several teachers and administrators in the area not behaving appropriately. This comes after Karly Anderson, the teacher arrested after being intoxicated at a high school party in January, returned to the classroom. She returned to the classroom on Monday. However, on the same day new bodycam footage was released. The Brevard County School District then removed her from the classroom.

Caught partying with high school students 

The backstory:

Both Anderson and a BPS school principal, Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, were arrested in late January in connection with the alleged house party. Police say there were drugs, alcohol and underage students as young as 13 years old at the party. Police say it was at the principal’s house.

RELATED ARTICLE: Florida teacher arrested for allegedly partying with students teaching again at Saturn Elementary: 'Livid'

Anderson was arrested for allegedly being at the party and interfering when officers were trying to help a child experiencing a medical emergency outside.

Anderson’s charges were downgraded to two misdemeanors. The principal is still facing a felony for child neglect.

What's next:

If Anderson is found guilty, she could face 60 days to one year in jail and fines from $500 to $1,000.

The principal’s court proceedings aren’t starting until June.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:

The Source: FOX 35's Reporter attended court hearings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. She's also been covering this case, speaking with police, the state and attorney's involved since the initial arrest in January.

Brevard CountyCrime and Public SafetyCocoa Beach