An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgement that should the case go to trial, he would likely be found guilty. Under law, the plea is treated like a guilty plea.
Sept 20, 2007 - John Cochran, 41, a Highland High School social studies teacher, was arrested on suspicion that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old during the 2006 school year.
Cochran faces possible charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. The La Salle resident was accused of that same charge in 1996, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Department, but that case was dismissed before it went to trial.
Cochran had been teaching a senior-level course as an adjunct professor in the University of Northern Colorado's school of education. He taught social at the high school in Ault in the 2005-06 school year, after serving a year as a substitute. His contract was not renewed after the 2005-06 school year.
Full Name: John Rogers Cochran
BOND Sept 22 - Cochran is barred from any contact with children as a condition of bond, which was set at $25,000. His attorney argued for the lower bail because Cochran has another job working at a casino and didn't want to lose that job. Next court appearance is Nov 15.
NOT GUILTY PLEA Jan 18, 2008 - Cochran pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. A four-day trial is set to begin June 9.
PLEA August 12 - Cochran entered an Alford plea to unlawful sexual contact. Charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust were dropped. According to the plea deal, Cochran must register as a sex offender and have no contact with anyone younger than 18, including his own children.
Cochran taught at Highland High School in Ault during the 2005-06 school year and had been teaching as an adjunct instructor at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Highland did not renew his contract because of complaints of inappropriate conduct with female students and inappropriate comments he made about female faculty and students, according to the arrest warrant.He could face up to five years of intensive supervised probation when he is sentenced on Sept 25.
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TT - What is consistent and very disturbing about stories coming from Colorado is that the victim is very rarely mentioned or, worse, considered by either the news media, the prosecution, or the courts. Somehow, they don't think it particularly creepy that a 41-year-old man should have sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl. There seems to be no interest or surprise or concern at the plea agreement that contains no contact restrictions that are unusual, to say the least. They act as though every convicted sex offender is forbidden to have no contact even with his own children. Why??
Nor is there any great concern that there were prior allegations and that he taught at the school of education preparing other teachers for the field. Talk about whacked out. It's Colorado. Welcome to the low-oxygen zone.
