West Seneca, NEW YORK

August 12, 2008 - Anthony Harper, 34, a West Seneca East Middle School French teacher, pleaded guilty to a felony-level sodomy charge involving a 13-year-old boy. During the plea proceeding, Harper signed a document terminating him immediately as a West Seneca school teacher. As a part of the plea agreement, misdemeanor sex abuse and child endangerment charges were dropped.
He will be sentenced November 12.

Full Name: Anthony D. Harper

SENTENCED December 5 - Harper was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years of court supervision . He resigned in August after pleading guilty and had to surrender his New York teacher's certificate.

State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski reminded Harper that "The community will be safe from your predatory behavior.” Michalski also reminded him that he will now remain a closely watched sex offender.

West Palm Beach, FLORIDA

Lewd and lascivious molestation.

November 3, 2008 - At first, Chad Stoffel, 32, pleaded "best interest" guilty to the felony lewd and lascivious molestation in exchange for a term of five years probation, including the first two years on sex-offender probation. According to the terms of plea, he would become a convicted felon. The lewd and lascivious molestation charge was for alleged incidents between March 2003 and April 2004 with one of his students at Summit Christian School. The boy was 14 or 15 at the time.

However, minutes later Stoffel vacated his plea after a glitch in the terms of the deal could not be ironed out with probation officers. The contention was that under probation, he could not live with 1000 feet of a place where children congregate. His current residence doesn't meet that requirement. The prosecution said the state would waive it, but the probation department would not agree.

Another plea conference is scheduled for November 24.

OTHER CHARGES DROPPED
Prosecutor Philip Wiseberg told a judge that a phalanx of felonies Stoffel faced in a separate case would be dropped because victim was uncooperative. Sheriff's deputies charged Stoffel with unlawful sexual activity with a minor and battery of a child for alleged sexual acts with a 16-year-old student at Wellington Christian School.

Stoffel came to the attention of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office when a counselor at a religious retreat in Memphis called and said Stoffel had admitted to molesting boys in South Florida. He disclosed sexual activity with boys dating back 10 to 12 years.
Full Name: Chad Stoffel

When Stoffel was arrested in March 2006, Pembroke Pines police said Stoffel molested two boys there in 1995 but both victims, by then adults, said they didn't want the cases prosecuted.
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LEGAL NOTE: A "best interest plea" means that a defendant does not admit guilt to any offense, but agrees that a guilty plea is in his best interest under the circumstances. The defendant is sentenced, while still able to disagree with the prosecutor's description of events.

Under a best intererst plea, the criminal defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge. The court will pronounce the defendant guilty. The defendant may plead guilty yet not admit all the facts that comprise the crime. Such a plea allows defendant to plead guilty even while unable or unwilling to admit guilt.
It is also sometimes refered to as an Alford plea. Source: U.S. Legal.com

UPDATED ON BAD, BAD TEACHER link

Salamanca, NEW YORK

October 20, 2008 - Police arrested 7th grade science teacher Michael J. DuPont, 42, on three counts of sodomy in the second degree. The charges stem from acts of sodomy committed with a student in April and May of 2002.

Investigators say there they believe there are several victims that have not come forward. DuPont’s case has been turned over to district attorney Ed Sharkey for action with a grand jury.

DuPont teaches at Salamanca Middle School. Doug Hay, SCS district superintendent said as of Sunday evening, he suspended DuPont until the charges have been resolved.“Under New York State education law, when a teacher has charges like these, the individual is suspended,” Hay said. “Last evening (Sunday), I delivered his letter of suspension personally to his house.”

Oct. 21 - School district helped conduct DuPont investigation
In the school district’s effort to ensure the safety of DuPont’s students, Doug Hay, district superintendent, said school employees paid frequent visits to his classroom throughout the week.
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INFO: No contact number was provided. But if you have information, please contact the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office at one of the numbers provided at their web site.

Twin Falls, IDAHO

October 25, 2008 - William Stevens, 22, Twin Falls School District substitute teacher and volunteer volleyball coach, was arrested on Friday for lewd conduct and sex abuse charges against a 15-year-old boy.

He was charged with two counts of sex abuse of a child under 16, four counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16, both felon-ies, and distribution of obscene material, a misdemeanor. The charges stemmed from a September outing during which Stevens and the boy performed sexual acts on each other.

The boy was not a student at the school. He cooperated with authorities. He called Stevens from the police department and asked while in the presence of police why they had had a sexual encounter, court papers show."I don't have a reason why - I just thought it might be fun or whatever. Be interesting," Stevens was quoted by police as saying in court records.

Stevens, apparently, knew the boy for years. As well as volunteering as an eighth grade volleyball coach at Vera C. O'Leary Junior High School, Stevens was also a substitute teacher for a day and a half after passing a background check.

An October 31 preliminary hearing is scheduled.
Full Name: William Arthur Stevens

Ripley, TENNESSEE

Amy was going for a track record, only not on the track.
If you get our drift.

June 5, 2008 - Amy Elder, 28, a Ripley High School teacher and softball coach , was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexual battery and statutory rape for a sexual relationship with at least two girls at Ripley High School over the past two years.

According to the Lauderdale County indictment, Elder had a sexual relationship with a 17 year-old girl from September to October 2006.

Police say there was another sexual encounter on Christmas Day of 2006. Documents also show Elder had another sexual relationship with a 15 year-old girl from March to June 2007. Police say there was another encounter on News Year's Eve 2007, and that the relationship continued between January and March of 2008.

Her trial is scheduled to begin October 21.

GUILTY VERDICT October 23 - Elder was convicted of nine counts of child abuse. The nine criminal counts each carry a maximum punishment of 11 months and 29 days in jail. She will be sentenced December 19.

She faces similar sex charges involving another former student, and a second trial is scheduled for February.

Breckenridge, MICHIGAN

No contest to seven counts of gross indecency.
Fifty-year-old teacher and 15-year-old girl.

April 3, 2008 - Donita Brady, 50, a 7th grade physical education and language arts teacher at Breckenridge Middle School and Breckenridge High School, has been has been charged with seven counts of criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old female student.

She was arraigned Wednesday before 65th District Court Judge James Mackie. Because Brady teaches in the same district as the alleged victim, the five first-degree charges were upgraded from less serious third-degree counts and what would have been fourth-degree charges were upgraded to second-degree, Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion said.

The five counts of first degree criminal sexual complaint involve digital penetration or oral sex.

The alleged victim and her parents filed the complaint with the Breckenridge Police Department on March 2. The incidents allegedly took place between September 2007 and February.

ARRESTED April 4 - Teacher arrested on sex charges
Brady is divorced and has children. She is on leave from the school district. A preliminary is scheduled for April 16.

PRELIMINARY WAIVED April 16 - Brady waived a preliminary hearing in district court. She is scheduled to be arraigned in 29th Circuit Court on May 5. Originally on sick leave, she is now on paid administrative leave.

ARRAIGNMENT WAIVED May 6 - Brady on Monday waived her arraignment in Gratiot County Circuit Court. Official set a trial date of Wednesday, July 2. Brady, who is divorced and has children, is on administrative leave. She has taught in Breckenridge schools for 27 years.

TRIAL POSTPONED June 16 - Brady's trial has been postponed for two months. The trial scheduled for July 2 has been rescheduled for September 3.

June 23 - Gratiot County Circuit Judge Randy Tahvonen was to hear the case for Donita Brady, 50, but postponed it to Wednesday, Sept. 3, from Wednesday, July 2. Tahvonen adjourned the trial because of ''new discovery'' items about which Brady's lawyers want more information, Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion said without elaborating.

MOTION DENIED July 23 - During a pretrial hearing Monday in 29th Circuit Court, Judge Randy Tahvonen ruled against a motion filed by Donita Brady's lawyers to "obtain or have the court review confidential and privileged medical records" of the alleged victim, Gratiot County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Bakker said. Bakker called it a fishing expedition into the life of a victim.

NO CONTEST PLEA August 18 - Brady pleaded no contest to seven counts of gross indecency between females. She will be sentenced October 20. Brady remains on administrative leave from the district.

SENTENCED (Sorta) October 20 - Brady was sentenced (sorta) to one year in jail - not prison - followed by five years of probation. She will be required to register as a sex offender after her release.
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TT - Amazingly, the court had received numerous letters from supporters on both sides of the issue. Lowercase judge Randy Tahvonen from the 29th circuit court decided to stay within the state recommended sentencing guidelines of zero to 17 months for the reduced charge.

Phillipsburg, NEW JERSEY

Sentenced in Pennsylvania to 15 to 30 years in prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Still to be sentenced in New Jersey.

Jan 24, 2008 - Keri Brekne, 28, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Lopatcong Township Middle School, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at the teacher's home.

Brekne was arraigned on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. Police said Brekne drove the victim from her home in New Jersey to Brekne's residence in Pennsylvania, where the assaults happened between last July and this month.

A preliminary is scheduled for Feb 1.
Full Name: Keri Ann Brekne or Keriann Brekne

Jan 25 - Warren County prosecutors filed separate charges of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct, aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual contact for incidents that allegedly occurred in Lopatcong Township between June 1 and Sept. 30, 2007.

Police said Brekne provided the girl with a cell phone so they could stay in contact. The girl's parents found the phone, which police said contained sexually explicit text messages. The girl told police where to find a sexual device in the bedroom of Brekne's Bethlehem home.

Brekne was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Gay L. Elwell of Easton and committed to Northampton County Prison under $75,000 bail. On the New Jersey charges, Superior Court Judge John H. Pursel set bail at $150,000.

Location is always the school location.

SUSPENDED Feb 20 - Brekne has been suspended with pay. Her salary is $46,012.

PLEA AGREEMENT Feb 29 - Brekne agreed at a hearing Friday before District Judge James Narlesky to plead guilty to five counts of aggravated indecent assault. She may plead guilty next month to sexual assault-related charges in New Jersey in connection with the same victim.

PLEA AGREEMENT REJECTED - March 28 - Brekne rejected a plea bargain Thursday calling for a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The charges in Warren County are now set to go before a grand jury.

The victim's father has called for the maximum sentence allowed, in both states.

"It infuriates us that Brekne's attorney comments that his client wants to get on with her life and put this behind her when in fact our child, our family and our community are forever impacted by her selfish, hideous and abusive acts we want to be sure she never has the opportunity to harm another child again," the 14-year-old's father told WFMZ-TV on Thursday. His name was withheld to protect the victim's identity.

GUILTY PLEA July 31 - In Northampton County, Brekne pleaded guilty to five counts of felony aggravated indecent sexual assault and faces an unlikely maximum of 50 years in prison. She admitted molesting the girl in her Bethlehem home.

Her sentencing in Northampton County is scheduled for Oct. 3, and she will be sentenced on the Warren County conviction sometime later. (Earlier this month, she pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to five counts of aggravated indecent assault that each carry penalties of between 22 months and 10 years in prison.) She will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Brekne has been in prison since a July 9 plea hearing when Northampton County Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden revoked her bail.

August 12 - Ann Brekne will officially lose her teaching position this evening during a meeting of the Lopatcong Township Board of Education.

SENTENCED October 11 - Brekne was sentenced in Pennsylvania to 15 to 30 years in prison.

''In 20 years on the bench, I have not seen a case as heinous as this one,'' Judge Kimberly McFadden said in a courtroom packed with about 85 supporters of the girl and her family and about 15 for Brekne.

Brekne will have to register as a sexual offender for the rest of her life, and she has surrendered her teaching certificate.

In New Jersey, she has also pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting the girl, and faces up to five to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced in three to six months, said Kevin Brotzman, a Warren County assistant prosecutor.

Roseville, CALIFORNIA

September 24, 2008 - A judge reduced bail for James Hirleman, 48, a seventh-grade teacher at George Buljan Middle School, from $350,000 to $250,000.

Hirleman was arrested last week and was booked on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, accused of carrying on a five- to six-year sexual relationship (from 1999 to 2005) that began when the boy was 13, according to the Placer County District Attorney's Office.

Rocklin police detectives made the arrest after investigating information provided from a previous arrest of another person in a local case, Police Lt. LonMilka said. The detectives pursued the case with the cooperation of Roseville police and the combined efforts of the Placer County Sheriff's Department, the Placer County District Attorney's Office and a county special investigation unit.

The criminal complaint alleges six counts of lewd acts upon a child, six counts of oral copulation of a person under the age of 16 and two counts of sodomy of a person under 18.Hirleman has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of molestation.
Full Name: James Albert Hirleman

Shinnston, WEST VIRGINIA

August 28, 2008 - Thomas Price, 42, a teacher at Lincoln High School, was arrested at the school on Thursday. He was charged with two felony counts of displaying and distributing obscene matter to a minor.

Since January, it is alleged that Price had sent the boy links to pornographic Web sites and sexually charged text messages describing sex acts he wanted to participate in with the boy. The investigation was prompted by a complaint from the victim's family.

White Bluff, TENNESEE

May 22, 2007 - Julie Petty, 36, a substitute teacher at William James Middle School, was arrested and was charged with sexual battery by an authority figure and rape by an authority figure.

The sheriff said the victim is a 14-year-old girl at the school.
WKRN news: According to the court affidavit, the student said Petty “touched her all over and then went further.”

The Dickson County Sheriff is asking parents or anyone else to come forward if their children had inappropriate contact with Petty. 615-789-4130

INDICTED: August 30 - Petty was indicted on a charge of sexual battery by a person in authority and statutory rape by a person in authority. Both charges are Class C felonies.

Last month the judge put several restrictions on her. "Petty was also warned not to knowingly make a visual, audible, sexually suggestive or obscene gesture, sound, or communication at or to the alleged victim." She will be arraigned on September 10.

TRIAL SCHEDULED May 30, 2008 - Petty goes on trial Monday on sex-related charges involving an eighth-grade female student.

GUILTY PLEA - August 17, 2008 - Petty pleaded guilty to sexual battery by an authority figure. In exchange for that plea, the state dismissed a statutory rape charge against her. She will be sentenced next month.

WASHINGTON

After pleading no contest in Washington state, charges against him in Alaska for molesting another child were dropped.

Feb 14, 2008 - Alex Mayo, 32, a teacher at Rilke Schule German charter school in Anchorage, was arrested for alleged sexual contact in 1999 with a 9-year-old boy in Snohomish County, Washington.

He moved to Anchorage in 2000 and began teaching there. He was suspended from the Anchorage school after he was indicted in Washington state last month.

After the Anchorage School District began its own internal investigation , they notified police of another possible victim. "As a result of that, one of those individuals talked to his children and found out that his child, he believed, had been molested." In both cases the victims' families were friends of Mayo.

School officials say he has worked at Muldoon Elementary School, North Star Elementary, and the Village Tribal Charter School. Police in Alaska have not filed charges.

Police and school officials asked that anyone who believes Mayo had inappropriate contact with their child call Stanton at 786-2668.

Sgt. Cindi Stanton, head head of the police crimes against children unit, said of the roughly 350 child sex abuse cases investigated by Anchorage police in a year, few of them end up with charges because the cases are often a child's word against an adult's, and often the instances occurred years prior and evidence has been lost.

TT - Which makes providing the police telephone number a little useless, doesn't it?

MSNBC - Mayo was allowed to continue teaching at the German middle school for two months after Anchorage police first contacted the district about the charges in Washington; however, school officials claim they did not know the nature of the charges until Dec. 12.
Trial is scheduled for March 28.

SENTENCED August 28 - Mayo pleaded the equivalent of no contest to a felony count of sexually molesting a child and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. As part of a plea agreement, Mayo's attorney got Alaskan authorities to drop the charges of molesting another boy in Alaska whose family Mayo knew if Mayo pleaded guilty in Washington.

Anchorage police Sgt. Cindi Stanton, supervisor of the crimes against children unit, said the case here concerned several incidents involving one child whose family Mayo knew. She hadn't heard about the deal until Wednesday.

"I wasn't thrilled, and of course, I'm not a district attorney and I don't work on all the dealings," Stanton said. "It's just frustrating because I think the guy should have got more time, but at least he will have this on his record."

TT - The agreement will spare both children from testifying. But there is no mention of sex registration when it is clearly, clearly called for. One article said, "Mayo agreed to stop teaching ." That's an indication that his teaching license was made part of the agreement, an indication that it was a bargaining factor.

North Augusta, SOUTH CAROLINA

Thirty-seven-year old teacher and 14-year-old female student.

July 31, 2008 - Shannon Fowler, 37, a a math teacher at Paul Knox Middle School, was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and enticing an enrolled child from attendance in school.

Authorities say Fowler was having an “inappropriate relationship” with one of her 14-year-old students since the fall of 2007, saying the two allegedly engaged in explicit conversations and that Fowler would take the girl off the school campus several times a week without the permission of the girl’s parents. Authorities say Fowler encouraged the teen to hide their relationship.

Investigators say the teacher spoke with the student throughout the day in person and by phone and text messages. Investigators say the conversations between the two were sexual in nature and even encouraged the girl to skip class to spend time with her.

Fowler is also accused of buying the girl a prepaid cell phone and giving her answers to a standardized test. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) handled the investigation because Fowler's husband is a former employee of the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.
Aiken COUNTY

August 12, 2008 - Fowler is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 5.

CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED September 10 - The South Carolina State Board of Education summarily suspended Fowler's educator certificate until a due process hearing or the matter is otherwise resolved. PDF

No other online updates to the case.

Port Orchard, WASHINGTON

Lesbian sexual contact nets teacher two months under house arrest.

May 23, 2008 - Ryann Springer, 25, a Kitsap High School teacher and assistant athletic medicine trainer, pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual misconduct with a minor for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Springer was arrested Tuesday and appeared in court Friday to face formal charging.

According to the certificate of probable cause filed by the POPD, School Resource Officer Bob MacFann received a complaint regarding suspicious activity between Springer and the student. The activity was alleged to be sexual in nature and include inappropriate text messaging, touching and other behaviors.

When the alleged victim was later interviewed by MacFann and a member of the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Assault Unit, the student admitted to having sexual contact with Springer on “multiple occasions and in multiple locations,” which included the high school and Springer’s home in Gig Harbor.

The Port Orchard Police Department investigated the case and said "sexual contact" had occurred on at least four separate occasions. Springer was placed on administrative leave. This was her first year as a staff member at the school.
Full Name: Ryann C. Springer

GUILTY PLEA June 24, 2008 - Springer pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 22, and the standard sentencing range is six to 12 months.

SENTENCED (sorta) July 22 - Springer was sentenced to six-months, however, she already spent about two months in the Kitsap County jail following her arrest in May. She will be allowed to serve the rest of her time under house arrest.

Danville, ALABAMA

July 22, 2008 - Jessica Defoor, 34, a 2nd grade teacher at Danville-Neel Elementary, was arrested, accused of having inappropriate contact with a female student in February 2006. She is being charged with second-degree sexual abuse - a Class A misdemeanor.

The student and her mother contacted police. Defoor was placed on administrative leave with pay.
Full Name: Jessica Heather Defoor

Whnt: (July 22)

Lieutenant Jonathan Green with Decatur P.D. says, "The incident allegedly happened back in 2006. It came to the attention of the police department in late 2007. Since that point, the family worked with our criminal investigation division, DHR and the Morgan County District Attorney's office to see which avenue is best to pursue prosecution of the case."

The girl was 14 at the time.

Ocala, FLORIDA

Sentenced to life in prison and designated a sexual predator.

July 8, 2008 - David A. Lamont, 61, was sentenced to a mandatory life prison term for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy. He was also given 30 years in prison for lewd and lascivious molestation of the same child, a sentence that will run concurrently to the first count. Lamont was also designated a sexual predator.

A jury in May found Lamont guilty of one count of sexual battery on a person younger than 12.

Lamont was a former Marion County Public Schools employee who worked as a teacher's aide at Hillcrest School for three years beginning in 1993 and at Lake Weir High School as a substitute teacher in 1987. The offenses occurred between 2004 and December 2006 when two brothers were left in his care. Lamont was charged in December 2006.
Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office

Kennewick, WASHINGTON

He victimized so many over 27 years, he said, "It's a shame that there are so many that I don't remember what each happened."

At sentencing: " I don’t want to die in prison."

Oct 22, 2007 - William Pickerel, 72, a Kennewick High School substitute teacher who worked in the Kennewick schools for over 40 years, was arrested, accused of two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor for sex with a 16 - 17 year-old student.

Pickerel retired in 1998 and worked as a substitute. The prosecutor's office has not pressed any formal charges yet.

Oct 23 - The student was male. Police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.Call Crime Stoppers at 509-586-8477 or the Kennewick Police Department with any information.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES Oct 24 - Police investigations continue. From the TriCity Herald:

William Bart Pickerel, who was arrested in Kennewick for allegedly having sex with a male student, is a suspect in similar cases with multiple potential victims on the other side of the state, said Seattle Officer Mark Jamieson, a department spokesman.

"Basically, Seattle is doing our investigation, and I understand that Kennewick Police Department is too, that there are some charges (Pickerel) is facing over there," Jamieson said. "But there are some separate charges that occurred here in the city of Seattle, so that is why we are involved."

FORMALLY CHARGED Oct 24 - Prosecutors formally charged him with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree. Pickerel pleaded not guilty.

LETTER TO PARENTS Oct 25 - The school district sent a letter home to parents. [TT - very informative letter.]

New state laws have made it easier for public agencies to share information about former employees with each other. By state law, all school district employees must go through the fingerprinting process when hired. As well, every candidate has to provide a sexual misconduct disclosure form from previous employers (if those employers were school districts or other public agencies who deal with children) indicating whether any sexual misconduct materials have been found in the previous district. Potential volunteers must go through an electronic background check and may or may not be allowed to volunteer pending the results.

AND,

It is critical that any student with any kind of concern for themselves, or others, feels comfortable talking to a trusted adult about the situation. We work to foster a culture of trust, so that students will feel safe talking to adults at school. Our schools participate in “Choose to Trust,” a program of the Kennewick Police Department that raises awareness and helps students understand that talking to an adult is not “tattling.” Parents can help by reinforcing this message with their children.

ARRESTED (AGAIN) Nov 30 - Police arrested Pickerel again on Friday after a series of new charges were filed in King County. He is charged with two counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the first degree, one in the second degree and two more counts of Child Molestation.

Dec 2 - Report issued on trips Pickerel took with students.

According to a 14-page report by King County prosecutors, Pickerel took at least 20 trips per year with Kennewick High School students, mostly to watch professional sports games. On at least half of those trips, Pickerel was looking to take advantage of the boys, the report said. "

When I was in school, no one really talked about that," said Pickerel's neighbor and former Kennewick High School student Kyle Bricker.

In the report, Pickerel admits he "victimized numerous boys over the course of 27 years." All were between the ages of 15 and 17 at the time of the alleged assaults.

Detectives said Pickerel had difficulty remembering dates and details of the incidents for many of the occasions. In Pickerel's own words, he admitted "it's a shame that there are so many that I don't remember what each happened."

Investigators believe Pickerel may have started abusing victims as early as 1992.

The documents also report the alleged victims' reluctance to come forward. In the report, one boy told the officer "he feared that people would think he was damaged." That same teen also said Pickerel "was the nicest guy in the world. No one wants to be the first to say anything." See Video report.

NOT GUILTY PLEA Dec 13 - Pickerel pleaded not guilty in King County court. He earlier pleaded not guilty in Benton County to charges alleging he had sex with a teenage boy in Kennewick three years ago and inappropriately touched another teen in November 2004 on another Seattle trip.

COURT DATE Dec 20 - Pickerel's next court appearance will be December 27th. That's when a trial date will be set.

COURT DATE? April 17, 2008 - Pickerel is still waiting for a trial date in King County and Benton County. He was scheduled to appear in King County Superior Court on Thursday. He also had a hearing in Benton County on Wednesday. A spokesman with the prosecutor's office says Pickerel's next court appearance in Seattle isn't known yet. Benton County is waiting until a trial in Seattle is over.

GUILTY PLEA May 9 - Pickerel pleaded guilty to two counts each of third-degree child molestation and first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, all felony charges. He also pleaded to a gross misdemeanor charge of second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

Pickerel is also charged in Benton County Superior Court with one count each of first- and second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Deputy Prosecutor Adrienne Farabee said the agreement was that she would drop the Benton County charges once Pickerel pleaded in King County. However, she said she will wait until the Seattle case is wrapped up with sentencing.

SENTENCED June 20 - Pickerel wiped away tears throughout the hearing in King County Superior Court where a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

“I’m guilty, there is no doubt about that, and I’ve never said anything other than that,” Pickerel said, choking up so his voice was nearly inaudible. “… I am asking for mercy. I don’t want to die in prison.”

Judge Charles W. Mertel noted the defendant’s age and poor health and said he realized Pickerel’s five supporters in court may find the exceptional sentence “harsh and unjustified. I just ask you to consider, like I had to consider, the young people and families that are victims of this crime."

A court hearing on the Benton County charges is schedule for next Wednesday.

BENTON CHARGES June 26 - A hearing to dismiss the Benton charges has been delayed two weeks. Prosecutors plan to drop their case against William B. Pickerel, but said Wednesday that the matter is on hold until a King County Court fixes errors on sentencing documents No explanation.

Melbourne, ARKANSAS

Sex charges with 22 (Not a typo.) students.

TRIAL SCHEDULED June 19, 2008 - Brock M. Felton, 32, charged with 28 counts of sex-related charges involving 22 students, is scheduled for trial October 21 or 24, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled October 2. He was middle school and high school band and choir director at the Izard County Consolidated School District.

ARRESTED Felton was arrested May 1 and charged with eight counts of sexual indecency with a child, seven counts of sexual indecency with a child under a different statute, nine counts of sexual assault in the second-degree and four counts of voyeurism.

Felton told an Arkansas State Police investigator some male students crossed the line by exposing themselves to him five or six times, but he did not want to get the students in trouble by sending them to the office, according to court documents. He said some of the male students tried to get him to expose himself, but he did not do so. He also said one of the victims may have been mad because he suspended him from band after inappropriate activity. Later in the interview, Felton said three weeks earlier he watched pornography and exposed himself to one of the victims, according to court documents.

SCHOOL NOTIFIED The next day, police met with the superintendent, who heard the allegations April 15 and looked into the matter, according to court documents. Walker told Felton he needed to "do the right thing" or he would suspend Felton and recommend to the school board he should be fired, according to court documents.

May 2 - Former teacher charges :
- Felton is the second Izard County Consolidated band teacher that has been arrested. In August 2007, Stacy Lynn Tucker, 39, was indicted by a grand jury in Little Rock on one count of child pornography. He was caught in an Internet sting when he thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl. [New entry started for Tucker]

- April 16 - Felton investigation began after the Izard County Sheriff's Office was contacted by Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Investigator Jannette Cooper.
- During the police interview with Felton, Felton said he resigned from the school because he was told by Superintendent Fred Walker that he could resign or be terminated.
- He also said that his wife and a foreign exchange student were home at the time, but had no knowledge that he was watching porn with students or engaging in sexual acts with them.
- April 17 - Superintendent met with Felton and asked for resignation or he would recommend termination.

ALLEGATIONS AND VICTIMS (continued here)
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Izard county is located in north central Arkansas and nestled in the southern Ozarks, is home to some 14,000 people. - From Izard County Sheriff's Department website.

Hardeeville, SOUTH CAROLINA

June 13, 2008 - Eric Parker, 25, a Hardeeville High School teacher, was arrested yesterday and charged with committing a lewd act on a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor - a 15 -year-old boy he met on MySpace.

Parker picked the boy up and took him shopping for clothes in Savannah. Later, the two checked into a motel in Beaufort where sexual activity took place.
Full Name: Eric Lamar Parker
-------------------- RESEARCH --------------------
The school has not been rated at GreatSchools.net because of insufficient testing data. The school is in the Jasper County School District that is rated a 2 (with 10 being highest) based on their testing. The school board minutes are online which is always a plus. (School at right from district website.)

South Carolina has an Education Oversight Committee ("Reporting facts. Measuring change. Promoting progess." ) where you can find a report card on schools or districts in the state. Hardeeville Junior/Senior High School is not listed. The Jasper School District is shown as Unsatisfactory in both Absolute Rating and Improvement Rating. The full report is in PDF format.

Interesting to note in the full report is that 95% of parents attend conferences. In the NCLB section, there is this: Classes in high poverty schools not taught by highly qualified teachers statewide is 9%. This district is 43.9%.

One of the major goals of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is to have highly qualified teachers in every classroom. From the U.S. Dept. of Education: A highly qualified teacher only has three criteria:
1) attaining a bachelor's degree or better in the subject taught;
2) obtaining full state teacher certification; and
3) demonstrating knowledge in the subjects taught.

South Carolina definition of highly qualified teachers here.
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June 13 - WSAV did their homework .

We did some background research on what it takes to be considered as a substitute teacher in Jasper County, SC where Eric Lamar Parker worked.

We called the Jasper County School District and were told that to be considered for a sub job, you need a High School diploma and a tuberculosis skin test, and you have to pass a background check.

After looking through the substitute teacher application, we found that it asks for 3 references and proof of highest level of education (High School diploma, college diploma, etc.).

Other questions include:
Have you ever held a teaching certificate?
Have you ever substituted in our schools before?
Have you ever been employed as a regular teacher or a paraprofessional?
What experience do you have working with children and/or adolescents?Why do you want to substitute?
On what level do you want to sub?

WTOC11: (Jun 13) Low Country substitute teacher arrested
Parker's bond has been set at $100,000. Sanford says they'll be sending Parker a letter suspending him until after his court case is settled.

Clarksville, MARYLAND

Sentenced to four years in prison and two trials to go.

Jan 12, 2007 - Alan Beier, 52, a teacher at River Hill High School, was arrested and charged with sex offenses and sexual child abuse involving two students.

He invited a of a 16-year-old male to help him set up camera equipment at the school after hours, then talked student into disrobing for photographs. The student contacted police. Police found the photographs that matched the photos the student had described in a search of Beier's home.

During the investigation, police said, detectives learned that a 17-year-old female student had reported that Beier twice had sexual contact with her.
Full name: Alan Meade Beier

The Baltimore Sun reports that Brier is the second Howard County teacher arrested just this week. Joseph Ellis was arrested on numerous sex offenses. [Our entry for Ellis.]

Jan 13 - Beier, who was chosen River Hill's 2001 Teacher of the Year by the senior class, has been placed on administrative leave by the school system.

INDICTED Feb 9 - Brier was indicted by the grand jury on sexual misconduct charges involving a third student. Both Brier and Ellis remain on paid leave.

TRIAL DATE SCHEDULED Mar 5 - A trial date has been set for of Jul 23. He is still on paid administrative leave.

FIRING RECOMMENDED May 3 - The school superintendent has recommended firing Beier as well as Kirsten Kinley. TT link. They fired Joseph Samuel Ellis. His trial is scheduled for July 23.

PHOTOGRAPHS ADMISSABLE May 31 - A judge ruled that photographs of the boy that confirm his story would be admissable as evidence in the trial. The judge also ruled against a motion to dismiss charges. The jury trial is still expected to begin July 23.

TRIAL SUSPENDED July 12 - On June 25, a judge suspended Brier's trial while Brier's attorney files an appeal in the Court of Special Appeals to supress evidence police seized from his house at the time of his arrest.

MOTIONS HEARING August 26 - Beier will have a motions hearing November 9. Beier has appealed a recommendation by county Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin that the school board terminate his employment.

TRIAL SCHEDULED Jan 16 - Found in a story about Kirsten Kinley's lawyer's attempt to get her released. Beier is scheduled to go to trial on March 26 .

PORNOGRAPHY INADMISSIBLE March 21 - Circuit Court Judge Diane O. Leasure ruled that showing the "legal" pornography to a jury would be too prejudicial and could not be included as evidence at Beier's trial, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The prosecution had argued that pornographic photographs found in Beier's home included adults in poses similar to those in the photos of the 16-year-old boy that were found on Beier's school computer, showing that Beier's intent in taking the photos was for nothing more than his own benefit.

GUILTY VERDICT March 28 - A Howard County judge Friday found Alan Beier guilty of second-degree assault and sexual abuse of a minor. Brier will be sentenced June 9.

Beier, who also is charged with fondling a 17-year-old female student on two occasions and with sexual misconduct with another male student. Both trials are scheduled for August.

NEW TRIAL DENIED June 6 - Circuit Judge Diane Leasure denied the request for a new trial based on the claim that his actions did not make up sexual exploitation. She is considering whether to permit Beier's request for a court hearing to challenge the affidavit police used to get a search warrant. She will rule on Monday when Brier is due to be sentenced.

SENTENCED June 9 - Brier was sentenced to to four years ** in prison. Beier could have faced 35 years in prison for the two convictions. TWO OTHER TRIALS are scheduled for August.

** June 10 story clarifed the sentence. Brier was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but four suspended on the sex abuse conviction and five years with all but two suspended, to be served concurrently with the first sentence, on the assault conviction. She also sentenced Beier to five years of probation after his release and ordered that he must register as a child sex offender.

NO RELEASE September 4 - Brier will remain in prison while he appeals his conviction. He claimed news coverage caused some inmates at the Baltimore City Correctional Center to beat him last month. He was treated at a local hospital for a broken nose and facial cuts.

Judge Diane Leisure refused to release Beier on bail or home detention while he appeals his conviction. The violence described was "deplorable," she said, but the correctional facility, not the judge, should be responsible for the welfare of the inmates.

"Jail is probably not a place anybody wants to spend a lot of time," the judge said.

West Point, KENTUCKY

Sex with a 13-year-old student in 1977-1978 nets four years.

June 7, 2008 -James Skaggs, 60, West Point Independent School, 62, a teacher at West Point Independent School, was sentenced to four years in prison. A jury found him guilty in April of four counts of third degree sodomy for having a relationship with a 13-year-old student.

The relationship started in the fall of 1977 and continued through 1978, according to court records. Skaggs later became superintendent of the Cloverport schools in Breckinridge County.
Full Name: James B. Skaggs

April 21, 2008 - Veteran Educator Convicted On Sodomy Charges.
Jurors saw a taped confession from Skaggs during his trial and ultimately convicted him on four counts of sodomy.