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Teacher faces more charges of fondling

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published July 7, 2006

TAMPA - Neighbors often heard music coming from Barton A. George's mobile home.

But the music stopped in October after George, 53, was accused of fondling two of his music students, both 10-year-old girls.

On Thursday, deputies accused George, who lives in the Countryside Village park, of fondling a third student, a 9-year-old girl who had been taking piano lessons from him, jail records show.

The third accusation came to light after the girl's parents saw news coverage of the other charges, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

He is being held at the Hillsborough County jail without bail on a charge of capital sexual battery, records show.

George is accused of touching the girl underneath her clothing and having the girl fondle him while she practiced the piano in his home, Carter said.

All the while, the girl's mother waited in a nearby room, Carter said.

In October, George was arrested on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation after a young guitar student accused him of touching her breast, records show.

George admitted to touching the girl because he was curious, records show. He told deputies she never told him to stop. Deputies say he told them he didn't intend to hurt her.

That same month, a piano student told deputies George put his hand inside the back of her pants, records show. George told deputies he rubbed her body because he was curious, and he didn't mean to hurt her, records show.

Each case is set for a hearing this month.

Neighbors described George as a quiet man who always waved hello and took the time to notice newly planted flowers and home improvements. Students stopped coming to his home after his first arrest, they said.

Researcher Cathy Wos and staff writer Rebecca Catalanello contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 7, 2006, 01:27:33]