Superior, MINNESOTA

October 29, 2008 - Laura Janzig, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of defamation for writing a series of false emails to members of the Superior School District alleging sexual activity between school students and a teacher.

In the e-mails, she Janzig alleged inappropriate behavior between a teacher and several of her male and female students. The accused teacher was put on administrative leave as the allegations were investigated by the Superior Police Department.

The emails were traced to Janzig who was dating a former boyfriend of the teacher.
Full Name: Laura Lee Janzig

Janzig is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1st.

Hawley, MINNESOTA

September 24, 2008 - Marlyn John Keller, 35, a fifth grade teacher at Hawley Elementary School, pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct. Under a plea agreement, Marlyn John Keller, 35, is to be sentenced to 90 days, with all but three days stayed.

He is to be given credit for three days already served on condition he pay $382 in fines and fees. The charge of domestic assault will be dismissed when he is sentenced on Nov. 10.

Keller was arrested in July on suspicion of domestic assault. Parents created an online petition to ask the school district to fire him after a late-July School Board meeting. Board members would not discuss the matter, leading to the petition’s creation. Keller subsequently resigned.

Rush City, MINNESOTA

ALL CHARGES DROPPED

Jan 20, 2008 - Timothy Bowland, 39, a social studies teacher and wrestling coach at Rush City High School has been arrested in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old female student.

He was charged with third-degree criminal sexual assault. Bowland was arrested at the school about 1 p.m. Friday, shortly after classes were dismissed. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Full Name: Timothy Alan Bowland

Jan 24 - The Post Review: A student, a friend of the victim, notified the administration last Thursday. The district then contacted the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Department of Education immediately.

Currently, there are three investigations underway. That of the County Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s investigators, one by the Minnesota Department of Education, and an internal investigation by the school district, which is being handled by the district’s legal counsel.

Bowland was officially charged Tuesday with one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct. Next court appearance is Apr 1.

TT - No comments are accepted on this entry.

TRIAL DATE June 13 - The Chisago County Attorney’s office is expecting to go to trial July 14.

At a lengthy omnibus hearing conducted on June 10, in front of 10th District Court Judge Douglas G. Swenson, attorney for Bowland, Julie A. Matonich, filed motions for additional discovery, including medical records and school disciplinary records for the victim, and a motion to grant the defense access to the site of the alleged assault, Bowland’s office at the high school. As well, a motion to dismiss the charges based on a lack of probable cause was filed.

Although it is possible Swenson could grant that motion, it is not common since judges rule on probable cause at the onset of a criminal case. According to County Attorney Janet Reiter, Swenson has been given additional information to bolster the determination of probable cause.

A concern regarding motions from the perspective of the County Attorney’s Office (the matter is being handled by Asst. District Attorney Jessica Stott), is that the defense will have adequate time to review discovery by the July 14 trial date, as the County Attorney’s Office would like to have the matter settled before the start of the 2008 - 09 school year.

CHARGES DROPPED July 28 - The Chisago County Attorney’s Office said it dropped all charges against 39-year-old Timothy Bowland. Prosecutors said there is not enough evidence to move the case forward.

Charges dropped against RC teacher

According to a press release from County Attorney Janet Reiter, details came to light recently that were considered unfavorable to the case, forcing a complete re-evaluation.

Reiter also explained her office’s subsequent action: “As public prosecutors we may not ethically proceed with a case if there is not a strong likelihood that there is sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. It was therefore our duty to dismiss this case at this point in time.”

CHARGES DROPPED

Cass Lake, MINNESOTA

Jan 25, 2008 -
Eddie Himes, 65, an emotional and behavioral disorders teacher at Cass Lake-Bena Middle School, was arrested on suspicion of possession and distribution of child pornography.

The case has been forwarded to the Beltrami County attorney’s office for consideration of charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Himes was arrested following an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, St. Paul Police ICAC Unit and Beltrami County Sheriff’s investigators, a press from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.
Full Name: Eddie Eugene Himes

Cass Lake teacher in court to face child porn allegations
About 290 students in grades five through eight attend Cass Lake-Bena Middle School

Area teacher charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography

Himes admitted to possessing the pornographic pictures of children and sending them back and forth via the Internet to people with whom he communicated in chat rooms, the complaint states.

His next court appearance is Feb 19.

SENTENCED (sorta) - July 22 - Himes admitted to possessing the pornographic pictures of children and sending them back and forth via the Internet to people he spoke to in chat rooms. He was sentenced on four counts of felony possession of child pornography and one count of felony dissemination of child pornography.

He was sentenced to

a total of an 84-month stay of execution on a series of conditions for 12 years of supervised probation. He is subject to a 60-month conditional release on each count.

Himes must serve 150 days of probationary jail – 30 days for each count. He must abide by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, pay a $300 fine plus costs, pay a $700 polygraph fee, enter into and complete sex offender treatment, engage in individual and/or couples therapy as recommended, complete the Abel Sexual Interest Inventory, have no unsupervised contact with minors, submit to polygraph testing, take all his medications as prescribed, not use the Internet, have no possession of sexually explicit materials, submit to random searches of his person and property, submit a DNA sample, comply with predatory offender registration and remain law abiding. The person supervising his contact with minors must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

MINNESOTA

Feb 2, 2007 - Baofeng Wang, 37, an instructor at Xilin Lake County Chinese School, was arrested after two teenage girls near St. Paul told police he inappropriately touched them while he was their art teacher in 2001.

The warrant was issued in Minnesota. According to documents from Minnesota, the girls, who were 10 and 11 at the time, said Wang touched them while he taught art privately. At the time, Wang was living on campus at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. He is awaiting extradition to Minnesota.

In Illinois he was was charged with being a fugitive from justice and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

MOTIONS DENIED May 23, 2008 - Wang was convicted by a jury on Feb. 11. A judge refused today to grant an acquittal or a new trial. Wang's attorney, Thomas Gallagher, argued in court today that one of the girls was 13 when the abuse occurred — meaning the crime did not conform to the specific charge, which involves victims under 13. He also argued that he and Wang were not treated fairly by the judge.

Ramsey County District Judge Michael Monahan denied the motions, saying, in part, that the victim's testimony was vague as to the exact time period involved, but that the jury had felt it was sufficient to prove the crime. Wang will be sentenced June 20.

SENTENCED June 20, 2008 - Art tutor likely to be deported

A former St. Paul art teacher convicted of molesting two young female students in his apartment was escorted to jail Friday afternoon and is likely to soon take a longer trip — when he is deported to China.

Baofeng Wang, 39, was sentenced Friday in Ramsey County District Court to one year in the workhouse.

His attorney, Thomas Gallagher, said a federal immigration hold likely would be put on Wang within days. After that, "he'll either win his appeal or go to China," Gallagher said. "It comes down to that."

---------------------------------------
Note: See SENTENCING INFORMATION by poster in comments.
Wang was sentenced June 20. The case # is 62-K9-07-000361

New Hope, MINNESOTA

CHARGED February 23, 2008 -
Nathan Antrim, 35, a Cooper assistant girls' hockey coach, was charged with having intercourse with a 16-year-old player. FoxNews Dec 7, 2007 - Cooper Hockey Coach Charged in Sex with 16-Year-Old Player

On Dec. 6, the victim’s father reported suspicious conduct between Antrim and his daughter. The father was concerned that his daughter had not been home the previous weekend and may have been with the defendant. He was fired.
Full Name: Nathan Paul Antrim
Original story on the school district problems reported here.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 3, 2008 - Antrim was sentenced Wednesday morning to 365 days in the workhouse by District Judge John Sommerville following Antrim's guilty plea to third degree criminal sexual conduct.

Antrim admitted to police that he bought the teenager a cell phone and an iPod and often drove her home from practice, eventually having sex with her at his home in Rogers. Antrim admitted to sending suggestive text messages to the girl and said he had been having "issues" lately.

He apologized to the victim's family in court Wednesday and said he's seeking treatment for drug and alcohol problems.

BACKGROUND ISSUES
School officials said after the arrest that a more thorough background check of Antrim could have derailed his hiring.

His police record included several offenses, including driving without a license, violation of a restraining order, and bookings on several other offenses. While the screening showed no felonies or instances of inappropriate conduct with children, the other offenses would have been reason for pause, Robbinsdale schools Superintendent Stan Mack said last December.

On Wednesday, Mack said that the case has led to a more rigorous form of background checks that he fears could potentially disqualify skilled applicants with minor problems in their past.

Hastings, MINNESOTA

Jan 8, 2008 - Charles Brookins, 29, a Hastings High School baseball coach and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton teacher, will appear in court this week for an omnibus hearing.

Brookins is charged with three counts of providing alcohol to a person under the age of 21, which is a gross misdemeanor. The charges are the result of an investigation by Hastings Police into an inappropriate relationship between Brookins and an 18-year-old student at Hastings High School. Source: Hastings Star-Gazette
Full Name: Charles Ames Brookins

TT - No felony charges were possible in this case because Minnesota has no law criminalizing sex between a teacher and a student. The County District Attorney wants a law change to make criminal sexual conduct in the third and fourth degrees (both felonies) applicable to anyone in a position of authority who has sex or sexual contact with a high school student regardless of the student’s age. (Press Release dated September 24, 2007)

PLEA DEAL OFFERED Jan 11 - Hastings City Attorney Dan Fluegel offered Brookins a plea deal prior to the hearing, which Brookins now has until a March 21 hearing to accept or reject. Fluegel would not elaborate on the details of the plea deal.

CHANGE OF VENUE REQUESTED March 27 - Brookins' lawyer wants a change of venue and another motion attempts to strike anything from the record that pertains to an inappropriate relationship Brookins allegedly had with an 18-year old female student. Brookins was due in court Friday, but the case was continued.

They entered another motion that seeks to remove anything from the proceedings about the alleged relationship Brookins had with an 18-year-old female student while he was both the baseball coach for Hastings High School and the physical education teacher at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton elementary school. Brookins’ defense claims the alleged relationship doesn’t have anything to do with the charges against Brookins.

A third motion says the city doesn’t have probable cause to charge Brookins because it’s relying on testimony from two “uncharged accomplices,” or two of the people he allegedly bought alcohol for.

The trial was rescheduled for April 8.

PLEA DEAL REJECTED April 10 - Brookins rejected a plea deal Tuesday afternoon prior to a hearing on the three charges against him of providing alcohol to a person under 21. The judge is considering three motions by the defense attorneys.

EVIDENCE EXCLUDED May 15 - The jury will not hear any evidence about the sexual relationship Brookins allegedly had with a female student, a judge ruled recently. Brookins’ legal team had also sought to have the trial moved to a different location, citing publicity the case has received and harassment the Brookins’ family has allegedly been subject to in relation to the charges against him. Sibley County Judge Thomas judge denied that request.

The defense wanted the witnesses to be charged with the same crime.

The witnesses in this case are minors who allege that (Brookins) provided them with alcohol,” McCarthy wrote in his decision. “These witnesses may have also committed the crime of minor consumption of alcohol, but that is a separate and distinct crime from the furnishing of alcohol to minors. These witnesses are not accomplices.”

SENTENCED June 25, 2008 - Brookins pleaded guilty to two counts of providing alcohol to teenage girls. He was sentenced to one year probation and seven days on a work crew. Law enforcement officials had also alleged that one of the girls Brookins gave alcohol to was an 18-year-old with whom he'd had a sexual relationship. Prosecutors declined to press charges on that because there is no law against a relationship between a teacher and student, if they are both consenting adults.

Marshall, MINNESOTA

Another band teacher in the news.

June 4, 2008 - Lori Schulz, 33, a Marshall Middle School and Junior High band teacher, was charged with criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and fourth degree.

The complaint alleges that Schulz had sexual contact with the student, a 14-year-old girl, from January to May 2003, while Schulz was the junior high band teacher, the complaint alleges. The student was in band.
Full Name: Lori Ann Schulz
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TT - The reason why so many band teachers have inappropriate relationships with students may be the same reason why coaches do. The best explanation was in a 2001 series in the Houston Chronicle by Danny Robbins, "Out of Bounds."

The number of coaches involved in sexual misconduct with students is generally attributed to two factors. One is the amount of unstructured time coaches and students spend together. The other is the power and stature of coaches, particularly those affiliated with successful programs.

---------
June 5 - When Marshall Police interviewed Schulz she said she was no longer teaching but working in an administrative job in a factory, the complaint said.

“First of all it’s disappointing something of this nature may have occurred,” Marshall Superintendent Klint Willert said. “It would be disappointing from anybody’s perspective.”

Willert said the allegations are especially disappointing because of Schulz’s abilities and musical work at the school.“

She was highly revered by many for her musical abilities and for what she did for the district. She had very high performing bands and musical groups,” Willert said of Schulz.

OMNIBUS HEARING July 16 - Judge George Harrelson ruled Tuesday there was probable cause for the charges against former Marshall School band teacher Lori A. Schulz.

Lyon County Assistant Attorney Tricia Zimmer filed a request for an aggravated sentence which would be an upward departure on a sentence if Schulz is convicted. Zimmer said in her request in the case where a victim is "vulnerable to age, infirmity, or reduced physical or mental capacity which was known or should have been known to the offender," an aggravated sentence is justified.

Zimmer also said Schulz "engaged in 'grooming' behavior over a period of time and used pressure, duress and threats of suicide." Schulz also "committed multiple acts" over an extended period of time, Zimmer said in her request.

Schulz's lawyer Joel Solie requested a plea hearing. Harrelson said a hearing would likely take place within three or four weeks.

Lake Park, MINNESOTA

May 22, 2008 - Jared Sanborn, 25, a first-year business teacher at Lake Park-Audubon high school, was arrested and charged with felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having intercourse with a 15-year-old girl.

On Jan. 14, police received a report of a possible sexual assault involving an 18-year-old girl. An investigation by the Becker County Sheriff’s Department found that Sanborn had sexual intercourse with the girl between late February of 2005 and early May of 2005, when she was 15 and he was 21 and 22. Sanborn resigned Jan 14.

His next court appearance is set for June 23.
Full Name: Jared Lee Sanborn

Minneapolis, MINNESOTA

It's not too late: He can still write a book and get on Oprah's recommended reading list.

May 23, 2008 - A motivational speaker "who experiences and a frank, tough-guy approach to warn students about the dangers of drugs and a criminal lifestyle," is in custody on $1 million bail, accused of attempted murder.

Russell Simon Jr., 45, was charged with nine counts, including attempted murder, criminal sexual conduct and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was arrested after police were called to the home he shares with his girlfriend after shots were fired. After a fight with a former prison buddy, Simon forced his girlfriend to perform oral sex. he threatened to kill her and her 9-year-old son. She was shot in the arm.

Some counselors and school administrators who have heard Simon speak said he connected with his audience by talking about his own life -- how alcohol affected his home life, the poor decisions he made, and the dangers of prison life. He talked seriously. And his program, "10 Seconds Can Change Your Life Forever," showed how he beat his demons to succeed.

Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad said Friday that tests show Simon had cocaine, THC and methamphetamine in his system. His bail was $1 million because prosecutors will ask for stiffer penalties against Simon if he's convicted. In addition, bail was kept at $1 million because Simon made threatening phone calls from the jail to his former wife. Authorities are also investigating possible fraud or identity theft because Simon had four credit cards belonging to someone else.

June 7 - Motivational speaker's life a mixed message

Investigators say that in the weeks since Simon's arrest, several people have told them that Simon had fallen on hard financial times and tried to keep going by taking advantage of women, some of whom he met through personal ads on the Internet.

After boasting of his motivational work to win their trust, he'd manipulate them for money and sex.

Minneapolis, MINNESOTA

May 23, 2008 - Rob Little, a teacher and girls' hockey coach at Breck School, was charged last week with stalking a woman in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Investigators said Little stood outside a woman's apartment every day for a week in January. Police told him to stay away, but two months later, he was back in front of the woman's window. A criminal complaint said Little met the woman when she worked at Byerly's. The woman said Little's actions were completely unwanted.

May 17 - Accused Stalker Left Windex, Sex Toy As Gifts
Little is married with a child and has no prior record.

Inver Grove, MINNESOTA

"As Muslim students they wish to pray at around 1:30."
Right after the cookie break.

An enterprising reporter at KSTP in Milwaukee visited the charter school Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, or TIZA, in Inver Grove, that is clearly a religious school, sponsored by an Islamic Relief Fund out of California.

The reporter interviewed the Executive Director of the school who told her that the substitute teacher who talked to the Minneapolis Star-News was "sadly mistaken" when when interviewed by a Star-Tribune reporter.

He denied that the school endorsed religion. He also said, with a straight face and on camera, that

"We are required under federal guidelines to allow students to pray when they wish to do so , and as Muslim students they wish to pray at around 1:30. So we allow them to do that."

State law requires state schools to fly an American flag outside during school hours. TIZA does not, but the Executive Director says that's because he doesn't know how to work the flag pole.
--------------
TT - See the Minneapolis Star-Tribune expose on the school that is now being investigated by the state Department of Education (belately, since the school opened in 2003.) TT entry for both stories by Katherine Kersten.

Inver Grove Heights, MINNESOTA

Islamic funamentalist school in Minnesota. Who isn't suprised?

April 9, 2008 - Katherine Kersten, a columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, has been investigating the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. This is her second article on the school.

The charter school is paid for by taxpayer money. It is, however, a religious school. It shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, whose mission is "establishing Islam in Minnesota." The building also houses a mosque and the executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief.

She spoke to a substitute teacher who described the school routine that is indistinguishable from a religious school. The columnist was refused entry to the school by the Imam. She asks some hard questions, like

Why does the Minnesota Department of Education allow this sort of religious activity at a public school? According to Zaman, the department inspects TIZA regularly -- and has done so "numerous times" -- to ensure that it is not a religious school.
But the department's records document only three site visits to TIZA in five years -- two in 2003-04 and one in 2007, according to Assistant Commissioner Morgan Brown. None of the visits focused specifically on religious practices.

The result of her inquiries is that the Minnesota Department of Education as well as the ACLU are investigating. The Department of Education is contacting the U.S. State Department to find out the status of the Islamic Relief fund.

Inver Grove [Google map] [Wikipedia entry for Inver Grove]
Her first article dated March 9: "Are taxpayers footing bill for Islamic school in Minnesota?"

April 10 - Metro charter school accused of teaching Islam
The Executive Director and Imam at the school thought the substitute who spoke to the newspaper was "sadly mistaken." KSTP Ch 5 reported that

state law requires the school to fly an American flag during school hours, however no flag flies outside of TIZA Academy.

Zaman told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he didn’t know how to work the flagpole.

Be sure to watch their video report and don't miss the statements by the Executive Director.

New Hope, MINNESOTA

Feb 23, 2008 - The newspaper calls it bad news. "Robbinsdale district's run of bad news just won't end"

First, there is an anti-levy group who have named the Superintendent in an ant-First Amendment right suit. There's an online petition to recall the Superintendent. A school principal had to apologize after endorsing a DFL candidate. The Robbinsdale School District faces a $5 million deficit. Two 15-year-old students were arrested for the murder of an elderly woman. Two coaches where arrested and charged with sexual assault of students.

So who does the newspaper go for a quote? The president of the Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers. It's the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
-----------------------------------
The two coaches are
Eric Hawkins, 44, a former assistant soccer coach at Cooper, was charged with two counts of felony sexual assault involving a 14-year-old who played for him in youth leagues.
Hawkins history includes being banned by by the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) and a string of soccer-related lawsuits, authorities say Hawkins changed his name years ago.

Nathan Paul Antrim, 35, a Cooper assistant girls' hockey coach, was charged with having intercourse with a 16-year-old player.
FoxNews Dec 7, 2007 - Cooper Hockey Coach Charged in Sex with 16-Year-Old Player

On Dec. 6, the victim’s father reported suspicious conduct between Antrim and his daughter. The father was concerned that his daughter had not been home the previous weekend and may have been with the defendant.

He was fired.
July 3 - Pleaded guilty and was sentenced. ENTRY

Willimar, MINNESOTA

Feb 23, 2008 - The headline explains it all: Licensing board, teacher agree to monitoring

A Minnesota special education teacher will be monitored for the next two years because of allegations that she has mistreated students.

A stipulation agreement with the Minnesota Board of Teaching says no disciplinary action will be taken against her teaching licenses. The agreement also includes the provision that new allegations could lead to a reopened investigation and possibly to proceedings seeking to suspend her license.

Van Der Heiden has been the subject of complaints from two families in the past year. According to documents filed in federal court, she has been investigated by the state or school district five times in the past three years.

Links from the West Central Tribune:

Collection: Willmar special needs teacher case

PDF: Stipulation agreement on Lisa M. Vander Heiden's teaching license

tt - From the agreement: Van Der Heiden was represented by an Education Minnesota lawyer. Education Minnesota is an affiliate of the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers and AFL-CIO.

Coon Rapids, MINNESOTA

Feb 14, 2008 - Adam L. Leiter, 27, an assistant wrestling coach at Coon Rapids High School, was arrested, accused of raping a woman he met at a sports bar. He is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim and two girlfriends met Leiter and two men at Be-Bops Sports Bar in Blaine on Friday night. The three men returned with the three women to one woman's home in Coon Rapids, where they continued to party. One woman woke up to find one of the men having sex with her. One of the women identified Leiter through a picture line-up.

He has been suspended.

Montgomery, MINNESOTA

Sentenced to 12 years in prison for sex with a student beginning when she was 14.



ARRESTED June 6, 2007 -
Troy Michael Bernard, 35, a fifth grade teacher at Montgomery Middle School, was arrested and charged with first degree criminal sexual misconduct for a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. (She was 14 years-old when the sexual relationship began.)

A child protection worker contacted police. The mother helped police.
KARE 11:

The woman then agreed to make a call to Bernard so police could listen. In that call Bernard said he hadn't seen the teen since the woman had confronted him. He said he didn't know how many times they'd had sex and admitted he hadn't always used a condom.

The Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department believe their may be other victims and ask that anyone with information contact them at 507-357-4440.

RESIGNED June 19 - After his arrest Bernard resigned. Investigators have received other calls on the teacher that they are investigating.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "According to the criminal complaint, the girl's mother had previously told her daughter never to be alone with Bernard "because of the rumors in town ... that Bernard likes to be with high school girls." Prior to working at the middle school, he spent two years as a special education teacher in the Dover-Eyota School District. Bernard hasn't entered a plea yet. His next court date is August.

GUILTY PLEA Oct 22 - Bernard pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for having sexual relations with a student for nearly a year, beginning when the girl was 14. His lawyer said Bernard did not want a trial because he didn't want the victim testifying in public. Sentencing was set for Jan. 8.

SENTENCED Jan 26, 2008 - Troy Bernard sobbed and put his head in his hands as Judge Richard Perkins sentenced him Friday to 12 years in prison. He was accused of having sex with the girl from July 2006 to May 2007 at his Montgomery home -- beginning when she was 14.

"You knew — you knew! — what you were doing was wrong, and you knew it better than 98 percent of the sex offenders I see in this court, and that concerns me greatly. That’s a huge red flag,” Perkins told Bernard. We believe you’re remorseful, but we’re not sure to what, and to whom.”

Twelve years was the maximum allowed for the crime. He will have to serve eight years before he is eligible for parole.

LAWSUIT Feb 5 - The parents of the 14-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by Bernard have filed a lawsuit against Montgomery-Lonsdale Public Schools, claiming the school district was partially responsible for a student being sexually assaulted by a former coach and teacher. The lawsuit has moved to a federal court.

Interpol Investigation

The name sounded familiar to us.

Jan 16, 2008 -Police recently raided a condo in Chaska, Minnesota, in response to a request from Interpol looking into an international child porn ring.

Europol identified one of the suspects in their investigation as an Italian national who ran an Internet website. He traveled in Europe and produced child porn in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Ukraine. The main server was in New Jersey and had links to others in Houston.

When Italian authorities raided the Italian's residence in the fall of 2006, they found about 50,000 e-mails. Some 10,000 of them were linked to 1,400 distinct e-mail accounts that authorities suspected belonged to U.S. citizens.

One of the e-mails was sent July 30, 2006, from an account linked to the Chaska man.

The e-mail warned against corresponding with a man named Barry Ostrander, of Braham, Minn., because newspaper accounts said he was under investigation for producing child porn. "Do Not e-mail this person, Because THEY ARE WATCHING all activity in that area," the e-mail said.

TT - Barry Ostrander was a teacher in Bethel, Minnesota. He was sentenced in September 2007 to 15 years in prison for possession of child pornography. He had installed a videotaping system in a bathroom in his house. Ostrander's wife and daughter located the camera. TT Link

Shoreview, MINNESOTA

Jan 15, 2008 - Newly-elected Mounds View School Board member Susan Murphy may have to leave office. The school board was informed by the district's attorney that she could voluntarily resign or be removed from the board for cause. But before either needs to happen, a conflict of interest must be proven.

Her husband is a janitor in the district and is a member of the union. The school board is set to negotiate the union contract. The board approved the hire of an independent hearing officer, a retired judge, who will perform an investigation to determine if such an issue exists. The hearing process is scheduled to begin on Jan. 22.

After the election, the attorney said, he advised the district that under state law, public officers could face gross misdemeanor charges if they take part in making contracts in which they have a voluntary personal financial interest or benefit.

The ACLU has agreed to represent her.

TT - She is not black, which makes you wonder if the Always Clueless Lawyers joined the cause because they don't want union-backed school board members in other districts to recuse themselves. When they find an idea "appalling," it's probably a very good thing indeed.

The school board addresses the issue on their website. They were aware of the conflicts but thought it could be solved by her abstention. It wasn't until after the election that the district lawyer made them aware of the specific statute and its legal implications.

Under state law, public officers could face gross misdemeanor charges if they take part in making contracts in which they have a voluntary personal financial interest or benefit. He warned board members: If they vote knowing that a conflict exists with one of them, all could face potential criminal sanctions under the statute. Beyond that, he said, the contract could be thrown out.

MINNESOTA

Jan 16, 2008 - Big news we almost missed.

Minnesota teacher's union today announced it had endorsed Democratic candidate Al Franken's Senate run.

The Education Minnesota endorsement brings with it a recommendation to the union's 70,000 members to caucus for Franken on Feb. 5 and the endorsement of the groups' national education affiliates.

The article doesn't link to it, but here's Education Minnesota press release. Scarey part:

"Our members were highly impressed with Al Franken’s grasp of the issues and his commitment to meaningful change, including an overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act and full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act,” Dooher said. “Al will be a champion for students, educators and public schools.”

The recommendation from Education Minnesota also means endorsement of Franken by the PACs of the union’s two national affiliates – the American Federation of Teachers’ Committee on Political Education and the National Education Association’s Fund for Children and Public Education.

He formerly hosted a show for Air America Radio, the first progressive talk radio network.