This has got to be the School from Hell.
Fourth time in two years a teacher at Helix Charter High School is accused of sentenced for having sex with a student.
RESIGNED June 20, 2008 - Helix High School teacher Jeff Wenham, 46, has resigned after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, the same teenage girl that a geography teacher at the school was accused of having sex with, authorities said. That teacher was Garry Wilcox, 41. He was arrested in May.
The girl's father came to the station a week ago to report that his now 18-year-old daughter had been involved with Wenham. The teacher resigned the same day. Police are recommending that misdemeanor child-molestation charges be filed against him. They are forwarding the complaint to the District Attorney's office for review
Wenham, who is married, taught at the school for six years. Wenham had been scheduled to replace a retiring assistant principal.
As a result of the previous incidents, the school said they are contracting with the National Institute of Ethics to "evaluate our needs, develop appropriate training, and participate in obtaining ethical certification." The process is slated to begin in July. [TT - something they announced back in May. Entry We still have the same criticisms and think parents should be involved in developing training in order to educate parents, and, through them, students.]
June 24 - The governing board approved paying the National Institute of Ethics $43,000 to develop training to prevent teacher sexual misconduct.
SENTENCED (Sorta) October 15, 2008 - Wexham was sentenced to 60 days in a work program where he spends his nights in a locked building, followed by three years probation. The judge also ordered Wenham to undergo counseling. He will have to perform 20 days of community service.
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La Mesa Police Dept. Press Release PDF on Wenham. (dated June 20, 2008)
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All links are to TT entries.
Frank Palumbo, 27, assistant band director, victim age 17.
No jail or prison time. No sex registration. Sentenced April 2007.
Sentenced to five years of probation.
Jessica Kahal, 22, music teacher and band director, victim age 17, male.
No jail or prison time. No sex registration. Sentenced Feb 2008.
Sentenced to three years of probation.
Garry Wilcox, 43, geography teacher and coach, victim age 17.
Arrested May 2008. Arraigned June 3. Pleaded guilty in July.
Sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation in August.
