Omaha, NEBRASKA

Feb 26, 2008 - Gary Fowler, 48, a community college teacher who worked as an instructor at a Nebraska jail, was arrested Jan 16, accused of having sex with an inmate. He faces four felonies, including three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. In court today, he waived his preliminary hearing.

A court affidavit said on Dec. 28, corrections staff found Fowler in a locked office at the jail. The lights in the room were off. Jail personnel said a 47-year-old inmate who is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder was in the office with Fowler. Investigators searching the office said they found several items, including a bottle of body spray, condoms and DNA evidence.

The affidavit said the inmate told investigators the acts were consensual. But Fowler told the jail staff the inmate raped him. Investigators said a second inmate also claimed Fowler abused him. He told investigators that Fowler massaged or grabbed him inappropriately on several occasions.

Fowler is a contract employee of the community college.

SENTENCED October 14 - Fowler was ordered to serve two years of probation for having sex with a jail inmate.

Lexington, NEBRASKA

While on the run, she shut off her cell phone because her daughter, whom she had left behind, was repeatedly calling her. Now that she's sentenced, the question should be: Should she ever have custody of that girl again?

Oct 31, 2007 - Police are searching for Kelsey Peterson, 25, a sixth-grade teacher and basketball coach at Lexington Middle School, who is wanted for kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She is on the run with a 13-year-old male student.

Court documents showed authorities had recovered several e-mails and letters in which the two professed their affection for one another.

In letters, the boy called Peterson his "Baby Gurl," and said their relationship was "just not about the sex but that it was pretty good," according to court documents.

Court documents say Peterson's school-issued laptop contained letters to the student, including one from April saying she loved him, thought he loved her, was "100 percent faithful" to him and would always be faithful.

The boy contacted his parents over the weekend to report they were in Grand Island. Police have tracked them to Denver, then back to Nebraska.

Kelsey has an 8-year-old daughter.

Over a hundred comments at the story.

have no clue what happened here and why there have been all these cases where teachers have these relationships with students that are so young and impressionable. They must be missing something from their lives and choose kids that adore them and think they're just the greatest things since colored crayons. They feed on the attention and admiration and take it to a completely bizarre level. I'm sure she knew what she did was wrong and just didn't give a damn. I guess now, we need to give prospective teachers psych evaluations before they get certified.

Another good comment:

I cannot speak for girls, but if you ask ANY grown man - and if he is honest - he will be able to remember AT LEAST ONE adult teacher or staff member that he fantacized about in middle school. The problem we are having is that some of the adults feel some form of license to respond to these teen crushes, and that has to do with the mixed messages our society sends regarding children and sexuality. As long as we have schools supplying contraceptives to students, school-sponsored "gay" or "gay/straight" groups on middle-school campuses, and other messages to students that being sexually active at age 13 or 12 or even 11 is "normal" in some sense, then these messages will also get to the teachers and at least SOME of them - perhaps only those who have issues of their own - will interpret the messages as license or even as a "calling" to "introduce" children to the world of sex. The boys will not say "no" - given the messages our society trumpets about "sexual conquest" and "scoring", almost every middle-school boy will see this sort of liason as an ultimate "proof of manhood". And there will always be girls who are - if nothing else - simply grateful for an adult's attention - not having the means and maturity to judge it harmful. The sad truth is, we have brought this plague upon ourselves.

TT - When you can't find a Halloween costume for your child that doesn't make them look like hookers, you know there's a problem.

ARRESTED Nov 3 - Peterson and the boy were stopped in Mexico. She was arrested and returned to the U.S. She now faces federal charges. Why the boy's picture and name is listed in the stories across country is unfathomable. It's hard ot find a story in the 858 online that doesn't name him.

Nov 10 - Fascinating story of the Baja California state police department's officer who traced and captured Peterson.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE Nov 15 - The defense attorney suggested that the boy was really older and the sex was legal. However, it's untrue.

The certificate was provided to The Associated Press by the Mexican police officer who found the pair. He says the document is real and recognized by Mexican authorities. He says he got it from the FBI.

The boy is 13.

PASSPORT Jan 16, 2008 - Mexico issued a passport for the boy, "verifying his underage status and wrinkling the defense strategy for the teacher accused of having sex with him," as KETV7 put it. More dumb remarks from her attorney.

TRIAL SCHEDULED April 18 - A federal judge has scheduled the trial to begin July 8.

GUILTY PLEA July 2 - Peterson pleaded guilty to an information charging her with Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Person Under 18 years of Age.

The plea agreement entered into between the United States and Kelsey Peterson calls for the imposition of a sentence of at least 70 months but not more than 87 months. That is the sentencing range recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines for her conduct.

Ms. Peterson agreed, as part of the plea agreement, to sentencing enhancements arising from the fact that: (a) the victim was under her custody, care or supervisory control; (b) she unduly influenced the victim to engage in prohibited sexual conduct since she was more than ten years older than the victim; and (c) the offense involved the actual commission of a sex act. As part of the plea agreement Kelsey Peterson agreed with the United States that certain facts would be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in the event her case proceeded to trial. Those stipulated facts are the following:

The news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Omaha lists the acknowledged facts and the laws broken in the States of Nebraska, Colorado and California. [TT - Hopefully, each and every one of those states will press charges.]

SENTENCED September 29 - Peterson was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of transporting a child across state lines to have sex in July

North Platte Bulletin (Sept 30 <--- date shown on article) Former Lexington teacher gets six years

Peterson told U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp that she took responsibility for what she did.

“But I am not a sexual predator,” Peterson said at sentencing. “That’s not who I am.”
Camp said she did not consider Peterson a sexual predator but that her maturity “seems to be on the level of a junior high student.”

KETV7 (Sept 29) Teacher Gets 6 Years In Jail For Sex With 13-Year-Old

"I want to move on with my life and make it better," Peterson said Monday in court. "I'm here to take responsibility for what I did."

TT - Hopefully, the boy's parents will sue her and delay her idea of "moving on." And let's hope there will be state charges.

KIDNAPPING CHARGE DROPPED November 3 - Before a hearing in Dawson County, the state kidnapping charge against Peterson was dismissed by the county attorney.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

Time to update your yearbooks. She was known as Stephanie Hall when she was a reading teacher at Millard north middle school between 1998 and 2002.

July 23, 2008 -
Stephanie Draper, 35, a Millard North Middle School teacher, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a minor six years ago.

Draper resigned in February after the school came to her with the accusations. In the court records, she never admits to sexual contact, other than kissing and says victim "was violent, manipulative, and paralyzed" her. He was in the eighth grade at the time - 14 years old.

Now 20, the former student claimed Draper got him drunk, gave him cigarettes and had sex with him when he was a student at the school in 2002.

The court records also say the school knew of a relationship with another student in 2002. The school admonished her for inappropriate behavior bit says there wasn't any sexual contact.
Full Name: Stephanie A. Draper

WOWT-DT (July 22) Sexual Assault, Blackmail Case Involves Teacher Students

The student, now 21, claims the first time the two had sex, Draper served him liquor, then had sex with him while Draper's husband was at work.

At the last encounter, the student claims Draper told him if he wouldn't have sex with her she would have sex with his friend, another minor who waited in a nearby room. The friend later walked in on the two and according to the affidavit, the friend witnessed Draper naked, trying to remove the other boy's clothing. That friend is now a prosecution witness.

Reportedly, the former student asked for money not to reveal the incidents.

Action3 News: (July 22) Millard Teacher Turns Herself in on Sex Charges

KMPT Fox 42: (July 23) Former Millard Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault of Student

SWI Iowan: (July 24) Teacher faces sex assault charge
Draper waived her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during an appearance before Sarpy County Judge Jeffrey Funke.

Draper is married and has two young children. She will be arraigned August 1.

ARRAIGNED August 1 - Draper was arraigned in Sarpy County Court this morning. She pleaded not guilty. A trial date has been set for December.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

He's 37 and she is 14. He said they were in love. (We guess he was in love with the other 13-year-old, too. Can you spell P-E-D-O-P-H-I-L-E creep?)

May 18, 2007 -
Police arrested Collin L. Holcomb, 37, a science teacher at Norris Middle School, for allegedly having sexual contact with a 14-year-old former female student.

Holcomb has been charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child. He has been suspended pending completion of the investigation.

Omaha World-Herald: He was questioned after someone reported that he was acting suspiciously in a park. After an interview with police, he was arrested. A police spokesman said Holcomb and the girl apparently had been in a relationship for a while.

Update from WOWT Ch 6: Holcomb is being held on $1 million bond. Holcomb told police that the girl is more mature than her age and they are in love. He said they planned to meet secretly until they could "come out." Police were called to Churchich Park Thursday night when neighbors became suspicious.

By the time officers arrived at the park, the girl was gone but authorities eventually found her.

Holcomb was brought to police headquarters for questioning and then booked on suspicion of sexual assault of a child - second degree.

The neighbor who contacted police has told investigators that Holcomb and the girl have been seen meeting in the park for at least a year. The girl is reportedly a former student of Holcomb’s.
Update June 25 - Holcomb waived his right to a preliminary. No trial date schedule given. He remains in jail on $1 million bond.

NO CONTEST PLEA April 15, 2008 - Holcomb pleaded no contest to third degree sexual assault. Court records show a judge reduced Holcomb's bond from $1 million to $100,000 but he's required to stay "in the presence" of his parents and has to continue psychiatric treatment.

He'll be sentenced in July.

HISTORY? NewsNetNebraska (April 16) - Reports that,

"The police believe the affair was going on for a year.According to Nebraska law, third-degree sexual assault of a child occurs when the victim is 14 years old or younger and the actor is at least 19 years old. It also stipulates that third-degree offenders do not cause personal injury to the victim, unlike second-degree sexual assault of a child.

There has been speculation that Holcomb had a similar affair in Iowa eight years ago.

SENTENCED (not nearly long enough) July 21 - Holcomb was sentenced to four to five years in prison for molesting the girl.

While noting that he hadn't seen a defendant make more effort at rehabilitation, Ashford also noted that Holcomb had a history of preying on children.

Holcomb admitted to police that he previously had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old daughter of a former girlfriend. That girl and her mother didn't come forward until Holcomb's arrest.

In this case, Holcomb, then an eighth-grade science teacher at Norris Middle School, began grooming a 13-year-old student in 2006. Over time, the two began meeting at Churchich Park, near 52nd and B streets in Omaha. Neighbors eventually became suspicious and called police in May 2007.

TT - "Rehabilitation" included 85 psychiatric sessions to address his problems. He had performed 148 hours of community service for groups such as Habitat for Humanity. Big deal. The only thing left was to buy a low-carbon-footprint car and flog Global Warming.

The prosecutor was troubled by the fact that Holcomb has suggested that both girls were the aggressors.

However, Holcomb's attorney, Steve Achelpohl, said Holcomb no longer feels that way. He has come to realize just how damaging his actions were - and two therapists said he was unlikely to offend again, Achelpohl said.

In a brief statement to the judge, Holcomb said: "I recognize my acts were horrible and caused a lot of hurt. I'm completely committed to getting better."

Holcomb will serve two years before he is eligible for parole and 2 1/2 before he is released. Under state sentencing guidelines, defendants serve half their lower term before parole eligibility; almost all are released after serving half their upper term.

Fremont, NEBRASKA

What can you say?

June 19, 2008 - Julie A. Hamilton, 49, a substitute arrested for stalking a teacher, pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace, a Class III misdemeanor. The plea agreement was because Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan said he didn’t believe he had enough evidence to convict her of stalking another teacher, so he entered into a plea agreement.

Hamilton was accused in a case that dates back to 2004 and stems from a disagreement over National Honor Society nominations. Hamilton was accused of leaving letters for her victim - another teacher - and writing graffiti outside of her victim’s classroom. She also was accused of breaking windows of her victim’s house.


Hamilton had been a substitute since 1990. She was fined $500.

Hamilton is the wife of Fremont Middle School Principal Gale Hamilton.

Lincoln, NEBRASKA

May 16, 2008 - Sanford Kaplan, 57, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Geology teacher and a soccer coach at Lincoln Northeast High was arrested and charged with six felony charges of child abuse and one count of false imprisonment in connection with allegedly binding six youths ages 13 to 15 and suspending them from the rafters of his garage in a bizarre sexual fantasy game.

The youths allege that over the past seven years they were bound, gagged and blindfolded, then videotaped or photographed trying to escape, in a strange "rope trick" game Kaplan concocted for his sexual gratification. Police say Kaplan admitted doing these things to several teenage boys in order to "fulfill a sexual need." - (KPTM FOX 42.

A July 2 preliminary hearing is scheduled.

The sheriff asked that parents who had children who came in contact with Kaplan inquire if the youths ever were asked to participate in inappropriate behavior.

NOT GUILTY PLEA August 13 - Kaplan was arraigned on eight counts of child abuse, four counts of third-degree sexual assault and two counts of first-degree false imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty. Trial is scheduled for October 27.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

Can't arrest him. It wasn't illegal.

April 8, 2008 - An unidentified Millard Public Schools business teacher resigned last Thursday. Police say the teacher, when questioned, reportedly admitted to sending anonymous text messages and paying the male students for pictures of their abdomens, chest and biceps.

According to Police the teacher would tell students where they could pick up money after he received the pictures. One time, he reportedly wrapped $50 in tin foil and left it at Beadle Middle School. The teenage boys thought the messages were coming from females at the school.

The school resource officer got a tip three weeks ago. Investigators found pictures on the male teacher's school computer, but they not were pornographic and not illegal.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

Let's get this straight. She's guilty of statutory rape but not crossing the border to have sex with a minor?

March 6, 2008 - Kelsey Peterson's lawyer wants get the federal case against her dropped in exchange for her pleading guilty to state charges of statutory rape.

The lawyer said in the U.S. District Court in Omaha that if he can't settle the federal case, he wants the court to order the boy's mother to be deposed. The lawyer says Peterson told him that the boy's mother advised them on the logistics of their trip.

TT - What the boy's mother did or did not do is irrelevant to either federal or state charges. However, he knows that Federal charges will likely be more onerous. There's no parole in federal sentencing and his client is likely to be on supervised probation for the rest of her life if convicted in a federal court.

Yeah

Feb 22, 2008 - In Nebraska, a legislator who introduced a bill to require home-school students to take state-mandated tests or have their schoolwork assessed by an outside evaluator says it isn't because her husband is a lobbyist for the state teachers union.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

Feb 15, 2008 - Thomas Gellatly, a first-year McMillian Magnet Middle School teacher, was arrested after German investigators linked him to an Internet child pornography site.

He was in Federal court on Friday, charged with possession of child pornography and distributing child pornography. According to the criminal complaint, Gellatly's name surfaced in a German investigation. They tracked the user name "Tommirot" in two Yahoo group sites to Omaha and both sites had pornographic images displayed, the complaint said.

Court records show that Gellatly admitted to using the "Tommirot" name, and that he had viewed and downloaded pornographic images. Gellatly worked part-time for OPS for the last couple of years. He was just hired full-time this year.

He was released after his court appearance and received permission to visit his children and grandchildren.

Feb 24 - He previously taught at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. The Omaha school district is in the process of firing him.

NOT GUILTY PLEA Feb 27 - Gellatly pleaded not guilty. A trial is scheduled for April 14.

NEBRASKA

This has got to be disappointing to Kelsey Peterson's attorney.

Blair, NEBRASKA

Dec 18, 2007 - A fifth-grade teacher at a middle school and an assistant girls' softball and basketball coach at Blair High confirmed allegations that he and a 17-year-old girl were seeing each other. He submitted his resignation.

The teacher is 28-years-old. The superintendent says he had no indication that the relationship was sexual, but he said the relationship was inappropriate for a student and a teacher.

No criminal charges have been filed.

Chutzpah

Chutzpah is defined as "unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall." A Jewish physicist described it as "Killing your mother and father, then throwing yourself on the mercy of the court because you're an orphan." That was funny before the Menedez brothers trial.

But there's a new low. And we don't mean describing a 13-year-old as the "lover" of teacher Kelsey Peterson.

Mastic Beach, NEW YORK

"This was a man in a position of trust. This guy should never be able to teach, and he should not be around children, particularly in the profession of teaching." **





INDICTED: Mar 6, 2007 -
John Monetti, 38, a principal of William Floyd Elementary School, will be sent to Nebraska to face charges he had "multiple sexual encounters" with a 14-year-old girl he met there via the Internet.

After five-count federal indictment in Nebraska last month, accused of sexual exploitation of a juvenile, travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile, and computer enticement of a minor, he was arrested at his parents' home.

After traveling to Nebraska to have sex with the girl, he was arrested May 29, 2006, when local sheriffs deputies found him in a rental van with the girl. He was released on a $2.5 million bond.

When he was arrested, Monetti was working as a substitute teacher in the Commack School District on Long Island. He previously served as principal at the Dickinson Avenue Elementary School in the Northport-East Northport School District, and at the William Floyd Elementary School in the William Floyd School District.

The Times of Smithtown reported the girl was autistic. A search of the van yielded used and unused condoms, a bottle of the drug Levitra, a training bra, a pair of girls' panties and a vibrator. Monetti also submitted a sample of his DNA.

GUILTY PLEA: August 20 - From the Omaha World-Herald: Monetti admitted to a federal judge in Omaha today that he made four 2,600-mile, round-trip flights to have sexual encounters with an underage girl from Nebraska.

John Monetti, 38, told U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon that he was guilty of two counts of travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile.

Three additional federal charges were dismissed under the plea bargain.

The judge told the former Long Island educator that he should expect to serve 144 months (12 years) in federal prison."Do you agree to that sentence?" Bataillon asked."Yes, I do," Monetti responded.

Monetti also told the judge that he understood he had no chance for parole under federal sentencing laws and that his guilty pleas would make it nearly impossible to successfully appeal his sentence. The judge accepted Monetti's guilty pleas, took the agreement under advisement and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 9.

** Quote from Washington County Attorney Shurie Graeve.

Excellent coverage from blogger Plains Feeder.

Nov 9 - Monetti was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $31,000 for the girl's counseling and court fees. Upon completion of his sentence, he will serve 5 years of supervised release.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

She brought heroin to the school with her.

August 30, 2007 - Krista Crosby, 34, a third-grade teacher at Florence Elementary School was arrested on drug charges. She was booked for possession of heroin, marijuana and associated pararphenlia.

An employee of the school found a bag containing possible narcotics. School officials determined the bag belonged to a teacher. A small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia were also found on Crosby, according to Omaha police

Crosby has been with Omaha Public Schools for nine years, the last three years at Florence. She was fired.

TWO other teachers (both women) were arrested and convicted on drug charges in 2005 - both for methamphetamine. (Actually it was three.)

ARRESTED August 31 - Crosby was arrested in July on traffic-related charges and posted bond to get out of jail. A parent in the class expressed surprise.

Gilkerson said she explained to her children what heroin is. About the whole situation, Gilkerson told them, "It's a horrible thing that happened. Unfortunately it's part of life. Things will get better."

TT - Yeah. I know I would just dearly love to explain it to a third grader.

GUILTY PLEA Oct 25 - Crosby pleaded guilty to bringing heroin into her classroom.

she apologized to her third graders and their moms and dads: "I want to apologize to all the people I hurt in this process. I'm sorry. I love the support I'm receiving. A lot of support."

Krista said she hopes to get into drug court to continue getting help, to "become a better person."

Krista's first stop after her guilty plea...the judge ordered her to watch 13 people graduate from drug court today. If she graduates from drug court, her felony conviction will be dismissed.

TT - It is a little difficult not to wonder if the "support" she loves is really the attention she craves because it makes her a victim of addiction, not a drug addict. Excuse me, but when you bring marijuana into a third-grade classroom, you don't deserve anyone's sympathy.

Fremont, NEBRASKA

ARRESTED: June 4, 2007 -
Brandy Reynolds, 24, a teacher at Omaha Baptist Academy from 2004 - 2006, was arrested, charged with ith first-degree sexual assault for sex with a 15-year-old student in 2005. The boy was a student at the school.

The boy's family contacted the state Health and Human Services System and a complaint was filed with police.

It is illegal in Nebraska for a person 19 or older to have sexual contact with a person under 16.

Arraignment is scheduled for June 19.

NOT GUILTY PLEA: July 3 - Reynolds pleaded not guilty. She is scheduled to return to court July 23.

August 1 - Reynolds' trial is scheduled for August 21.

NO CONTEST PLEA: August 16 - Reynolds pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree sexual assault, a felony. The original first-degree sexual assault charge was dropped as part of a deal for her plea. The prosecutor agreed to make no recommendation for sentencing.

From Fremont Tribune:

Rubbing her wedding ring as tears streamed down her face, Brandy Reynolds could barely be heard when she pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree sexual assault Wednesday in Dodge County District Court.

The investigation began after an anonymous report to the state Health and Human Services department.

The boy's parents also reported the case. The affidavit stated the boy's parents found out about the relationship from Pastor Adam Love of Calvary Baptist Church in Fremont after Reynolds had confided in him about the relationship.

She will also be a registered sex offender.

“I wanted to try to resolve (the case) without the victim having to through the trial process,” Vaughan said. “This will still cause her to have to register as a sex offender.”

He said the conviction also would prevent Reynolds from teaching children and limit her contact with minors.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 24.

SENTENCED: Sept 24 - Reynolds was sentenced to four to eight years in prison.

From the Omaha World-Herald:

After reviewing the evidence, [Judge] Samson denied Reynolds' request for leniency."You were the one who was the more mature individual," Samson told Reynolds. "You were put in a position of trust." After sentencing, Reynolds put her head on the wooden defense table and sobbed. More than a dozen friends and relatives, including Reynolds' husband, packed the courtroom to show support.

Papillion, NEBRASKA

ARRESTED: Sept 21, 2007 - Mike Govig, 44, a coach at Papillion-La Vista High School, was arrested on child pornography charges.

In a twelve page complaint unsealed Friday, a special agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says the coach had hundreds of images of child porn on his computer. In court papers that they started their investigation into a website called "Home Collection" a year-and-a-half ago. That led them to other child porn websites like "Sexy Angels," "Spycam Lolitas," Lollivirgins," and "Excited Angels."

On December 27, 2006, agents say Govig paid Pay Pal a monthly subscription fee of $99.95 to access the websites.

Three days ago, ICE agents and other law enforcement agencies raided Govig's house in La Vista and took his laptop. Court papers say he reportedly admitted to agents that he lives alone, had downloaded the video files, and said the girls in the videos were about 12.

Agents dispute this, saying one movie file shows a 6 to 10-year-old girl performing oral sex on an adult male. They say a second movie shows a 6 to 10-year-old touching herself.

Govig was hired this summer as the assistant softball coach at Creighton University. They fired him.

Omaha, NEBRASKA

Sept 11, 2007 - Jodi Reeder, 29, a Central High School physical education teacher and varsity softball coach, was arrested for the FOURTH time for drunken driving.

She was pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Her blood-alcohol level was .189, more than twice the legal limit of .08.

Her last two arrests for DUI were in 2003. She was charged with second-offense drunken driving in each case and sentenced to five days in jail, loss of her driver's license for one year and one year of probation. She's worked for the school system for three years.

Sept 14 - KETV7: Reeder made her first court appearance. If convicted of felony DUI, Reeder will no longer be able to hold a teaching license in Nebraska

Sioux City, NEBRASKA

Mar 26, 2007 - A South Sioux City, Nebraska teacher is on "leave" for one week after his arrest for soliciting a prostitute. He is a teacher and head coach at South Sioux City Middle School.

His status could come up for discussion at Monday night's school board meeting.

TT - The Nebraska Department of Education is one of the few state sites where it you can find a front page link to Certification that leads you to a link to a Code of Ethics.

Lancaster Co, NEBRASKA

Oct 24, 2006 - Scott A. Habegger, 34, Olathe (KS) elementary school principal, pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old male student 11 years ago in Nebraska. He will be sentenced in January.

His victim contacted police and with police monitoring, he sent IMs and started IM and e-mail conversations over six weeks that corraborated the story.

Jan 31, 2007 - Habegger was sentenced to eight to ten years.

KETV reports that Habegger, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, was working as a student teacher at Norris Elementary School at the time of the assaults.

From a Journal-Star story: The defense attorney urged the judge to consider that at the time of his arrest, Habegger was a “rising star in the field of education.”

[Judge] Merritt agreed Habegger was on the fast track in his profession, and that it appeared Habegger has not sexually assaulted other children.

But Merritt also noted Habegger had violated the trust children often have in their teachers.“Teachers are more than educators,” he said. “(They are) mentors, trusted guides, perhaps even a moral compass.”
Indeed.