Giovanni Faces Sixth Charge in DPS Abuse Coverup

A new felony count alleges she told HR staff not to interview the Eno Valley principal to block police from getting a written statement.

Former Durham Public Schools deputy superintendent Tanya Giovanni faced a new indictment Monday, bringing her total to six felony obstruction of justice charges tied to an allegedly mishandled child abuse investigation at Eno Valley Elementary School.

The new count alleges that on Dec. 19 Giovanni told a human resources employee the employee could not interview Eno Valley principal Tounya Wright, specifically to stop that staff member from creating a statement law enforcement could obtain. Giovanni, 55, of Raleigh had been arrested in January on the original five charges, which accuse her of delaying a Durham police investigation into allegations a teaching assistant tied a student with autism to a chair.

Giovanni, Wright, and senior executive director of employee relations Ayesha Hunter were all indicted in January. All three cases remain pending in Durham County Superior Court.

The new indictment does not specify whether Giovanni will be rearrested. She posted a $10,000 secured bond but failed to appear in court last month when her attorney filed a motion to withdraw. Judge Brian C. Wilks warned in an April 20 court document that another missed appearance could trigger an arrest order. Giovanni is a licensed attorney with an active North Carolina State Bar license since February 2011. DPS fired her in March.

Newly released emails show the Durham County District Attorney's Office contacted Superintendent Anthony Lewis in early November about compliance concerns and waited nearly two months for a reply. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Al-Zoubi wrote Lewis on Nov. 12 asking him to meet with her and District Attorney Satana Deberry to discuss "full legal compliance of court orders." Lewis did not respond until Jan. 5, apologizing for the delay and explaining he had missed the message while in Austin for an Inter-City visit with the Durham Chamber. Attorneys at Tharrington flagged the email for him.

Lewis suspended Giovanni, Wright, and Hunter on Dec. 19, one day after learning police had executed a search warrant at DPS headquarters. The DA's office had been waiting weeks by then.

Giovanni Faces Sixth Charge in DPS Abuse Coverup

A new felony count alleges she told HR staff not to interview the Eno Valley principal to block police from getting a written statement.

Giovanni, Wright, and senior executive director of employee relations Ayesha Hunter were all indicted in January. All three cases remain pending in Durham County Superior Court.

Lewis suspended Giovanni, Wright, and Hunter on Dec. 19, one day after learning police had executed a search warrant at DPS headquarters. The DA's office had been waiting weeks by then.