Azusa, CALIFORNIA

First day of teaching.

Jury unable to decide. Judge drops charges.

April 3, 2008 - Virgil Harper, 65, a substitute teacher at Powell Elementary School, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of 10 counts of lewd acts with children, authorities said.

The arrest came 10 days after children at the elementary school reported Harper touched them inappropriately. Investigators believe the alleged acts took place over a one and a half hour period on what district officials said was Harper's first day teaching at the school.
Full Name: Virgil Cleon Harper AKA Cleon Harper AKA V Cleon Harper

Student accuses substitute of inapproriate touching (March 27)
Police are investigating allegations of inappropriate conduct by a teacher at an elementary school, officials said Thursday. Officials confirmed the substitute teacher - whose identity was not released pending the investigation - has been accused of inappropriately touching fourth-graders at Powell Elementary on Mauna Loa Avenue

Harper was being held at the Azusa city jail today pending a court hearing Monday at L.A. County Superior Court in Pomona.

April 4 - Since 2000, Harper has taught at 11 other schools in the district, ranging from the elementary to high school level. He is a commissioner on Azusa's Architectural Barriers Commission, a board member of Stepping Stones for Women, an organization that provides services for single mothers and their children, and a former adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University. His wife strongly denies the allegations.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney Press Release (dated Apr 7, 2008)
Case No. KA082693
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TT - Students at Rate My Professor rated him as poor. One commented that Harper "got fired halfway through his first semester of undergraduate teaching...does that explain it? "
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CHARGED April 7 - Harper was charged on Monday with nine counts of lewd act on a child under age 14. Harper's arraignment is scheduled for April 18.

NOT GUILTY PLEA April 19 - Harper pleaded not guilty to 9 counts of child molestation. A preliminary is scheduled for May 8.

HUNG JURY - JUDGE DROPS CHARGES October 28 - A jury deliberated for three days before failing to reach a decision Monday. Seven jurors believed Harper was guilty while five believed he was not. The judge Tuesday dropped lewd conduct charges against Harper, calling the accusations "implausible," officials said.

HUNG JURY, JUDGE DROPS CHARGES