VIERA, Fla. — Jury selection got underway Monday in the case of a Brevard County teacher facing several charges connected to a Jan. 19 house party in Cocoa Beach where police say they found dozens of underage people drinking alcohol.

What You Need To Know

  •  Karly Gayle Anderson, 45, was arrested in January after Cocoa Beach police responded to a house party where they say dozens of underage people were drinking and intoxicated

  • At the time, she was a third-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School

  • Initially charged with a felony, Anderson's charges were later downgraded to misdemeanors, which allowed her to return to the classroom

  • She had only just started a new position at Saturn Elementary School when body cam footage of her arrest was released and she was quickly placed on administrative leave

  • Jury selection in her trial started Monday

Karly Gayle Anderson, 45 — who was a third-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School — was arrested at the home of Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the school's then-principal. 

Anderson was initially charged with felony child neglect, contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a minor, and resisting or obstructing an office without violence — the latter two charges being misdemeanors. The first two of Anderson's charges were later downgraded to disorderly conduct and disorderly intoxication — both misdemeanors — while the resisting or obstructing an officer charge remained. 

School district officials say after the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor by the State Attorney’s Office on April 1, Anderson was eligible to return to the classroom, per state statute and district policy. She was just one day into a new job at Saturn Elementary School when police body cam footage of her arrest was released. 

The Cocoa Beach Police body cam video shows the interaction between officers and Anderson when they arrived at the house party where police say some 200 minors were drinking and intoxicated.

Seen cursing and confronting officers — and appearing to admit on camera that she knew underaged drinking was taking place at the party — Anderson was immediately placed on administrative leave.

“Once the body cam footage came out yesterday (April 14), we realized that for the first time we had evidence that we would be able to go back and investigate and pull the person from the classroom,” said Brevard School Board District 4 member Matt Susin.

Brevard County Public Schools officials say part of the district’s investigation will be whether Anderson was actually inside the party at any point, and if she came between officers and an intoxicated child found on the front lawn who officials say was having an alcohol-related episode.

At the conclusion of the jury selection process, Anderson's full trial will then begin.

Hill-Brodigan, who waived her right to a speedy trial on April 29, is facing felony child neglect, hosting an open house party and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her next court date is scheduled for June 11.