TT SCRUTINY
Oct 26, 2007 - From the Reporter-Times, "State had dozens of teacher sexual misconduct cases in five years."
The state recorded 30 sexual misconduct cases over five years, with 17 involving student victims, the AP review found. Nearly all resulted in criminal convictions.AND,
State law requires districts to notify the Department of Education if a teacher is fired for sexual misconduct, and prosecutors must alert the department when a teacher is convicted of such crimes.TT - Seventeen sexual misconduct with student cases in five years works out to be 3+ a year. However, we know of 10 alone since Oct 26, 2006 who have been sentenced for sexual misconduct with students. We have ten more who were arrested that we can't follow up on, and two cases (one of which is sex, the other theft) where the judge refused plea agreements where the teachers would have served no time.
But experts say not all cases are reported, and not all abusive teachers are caught.
State Rep. Jerry Torr, a Republican from Carmel, said Indiana law should require districts to report when teachers resign to avoid being fired or when they are arrested, instead of waiting for convictions on such crimes.
Jennifer Jacobi, 35, sentenced to 66 years
Brett Zagorac, 24, pleaded guilty to battery charges
Kevin Walsh, 28, three years probation and registration as sex offender
Amber Marshall, 25, sentenced 6 yrs probation for sexual misconduct with special needs students
Donald R. Julian, 67, sentenced 10-year suspended sentence and four years probation. Sexual misconduct
Scott Coffing, 33, sentenced to two years for seduction of a child
Jack Spencer, 56, sentenced to four years for molesting a student
Anthony J. DeMarco, 27, sentenced to 120 years (reduced on appeal to 60) molesting students
Jason G. Brooks, 32, sentenced to 10 years for sexual misconduct with a child
Schmeca White, 28, sentenced to 9 years for sexual misconduct with a minor, vicarious sexual gratification and battery.
Lela Warren, failing to report the complaints given pre-trial diversion (For failing to report Schmeca White.)
One of the reasons that the Associated Press figures are so low in Indiana and other states is that in many states teachers are allowed to resign before their conviction or guilty plea, making it unnecessary to report them or count them.
Others are given the opportunity to "voluntarily surrender" their license, making it unncessary to revoke a license for sexual misconduct. But most, we suspect, are allowed to resign, making reporting them unnecessary. For the rest, the clock runs out as their licenses are allowed to expire while they are in jail or prison.
It isn't just Indiana. It is every single state.
