Circuit Court Judge Lee Carter presided over a jury trial this week at the Winston County Courthouse for Chase Cantrell, 30, on charges of a school employee engaging in a sexual act with a student, statutory rape, and third-degree burglary.

The victim was under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged incidents. Police reports state Cantrell allegedly entered the girls home through the child’s window while the family was at home.

Cantrell was a Double Springs Middle School teacher before being terminated after the charges were filed in February 2017. After hearing testimony from the alleged victim, then Cantrell, the 13 member jury (11 women, 2 men) never had an opportunity to make a decision.

At 3:30 Thursday afternoon, Judge Carter declared a mistrial which ended the proceedings. The reason for his decision will be posted later today.