Alamagordo, NEW MEXICO

Random drug test policy criticized as inadequate.

August 1, 2008 - Parents criticized a proposed random drug test policy for students. For one, the random tests would only be administered to drivers with school parking permits and those enrolled in sports programs. One parent who is a testing administrator for the Holloman Air Force Base drug program found fault with the policy.

"As a parent I want a 100 percent testing" policy, Shipman said. "I think my daughter needs to be part of the program."

Shipman said she found a lot of loopholes in the proposed policy. She had a copy of the document with eight of the 12 pages marked significantly in red.

Shipman's daughter is not in sports or driving, so she wouldn't be tested.

"But I also want her to know that just because she doesn't drive and doesn't participate in sports its not okay to do drugs," Shipman said.

Another parents complained that those who do competitive sports are less likely to be doing drugs. And, too, as another parent pointed out, the policy doesn't address what to do with students who are caught with drugs or who have vehicles with drugs in them.

Turlock, CALIFORNIA

"Pervert teachers try to arrange threesome with 16-year-old student."
That's what the headline would say if this was in a U.K. newspaper.

July 31, 2008 - Two Turlock Christian School teachers will face felony charges after being accused of trying to arrange group sex with a 16-year-old female student by sending her sexually explicit text messages and photo.

Justin Northcutt, 27, and his wife, Amy Northcutt, 26 -- were both arrested June 2 and charged with one felony count of "harmful matter sent with intent of seduction of a minor. " Authorities say relatives of the student caught on before anything physical happened.

Amy Northcutt was the girl's high school historyteacher. Justin Northcutt was a substitute teacher at Turlock Christian's junior high and high schools. The Northcutts are scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 3.

NOT GUILTY PLEAS October 9 - The Norcutts pleaded not guilty. Both were charged with one felony count of "harmful matter sent with intent of seduction of a minor." They are due to return to court December 17.

Alexandria, VIRGINIA

Another one of those mandated-reporters-who-don't story.
Slap on wrist fine of $500 for admitted failure to report sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl.

June 18, 2008 - Abdalla Al-Shabnan, the director of the Islamic Saudi Academy, a private school in Alexandria, VA, that is funded by the Saudi government, was arrested for failing to report an allegation of child abuse.

Police say that Al-Shabnan, didn't believe a five-year-old girl when the student told him her father was sexually abusing her.

According to court papers, Abdalla Al Shabnan did not report the incident, instead he allegedly told told the girl's parents to seek counseling for her.

Washington Post (June 17) Shabnan was also charged with obstruction of justice.
Police said in court papers that Al-Shabnan ordered a written report about the girl's complaint, which had been prepared by other school officials, to be deleted from a school computer.
------------
No information on how the police did find out about the girl or what happened to her.

GUILTY PLEA & FINE July 31 - Al-Shabnan admitted that he failed to inform authorities about suspected sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl suspected child abuse. He was fined $500. As part of a plea bargain, prosecutors dropped an obstruction of justice charge, which could have carried up to a year in jail. A trial had been scheduled for Aug. 1.

Police also said in court papers that the Al-Shabnan, 52, had a report of the girl's complaint deleted from a school computer.

Court Ruling

Another blow against public integrity.

July 31, 2008 - Spokesman Review editor Steve Smith on "A stunning ruling."

By now, I hope you have seen the story today on the Washington Supreme Court ruling protecting the names of teachers who have been accused of sexual misconduct. (Link here)

It's a pretty amazing ruling. If I read it correctly, it even provides the districts cover if officials choose not to notify police agencies of accusations even though they are so-called mandatory reporters.

In my view, this is another example of bureaucrats being given the power to hold back information critical to the public.

Some will argue the ruling protects the privacy of the accused until charges are substantiated. But who decides the charges have been substantiated, or even properly investigated? [Emphasis ours.] And in cases of sexual abuse by teachers, publicity is often what brings victims forward to provide the substantiation?

If there is a balance to be struck, I believe it ought to be struck in the public interest. Read the dissent for more on that view.

In any event, this ruling, like other recent decisions against public disclosure, is sure to lead to calls for legislative action. But it will take real legislative oomph to overcome the powerful teacher lobby.

----------------------------------
The news article linked to states that the high court ruled Thursday that identifying teachers in unsubstantiated cases violates the teachers’ right to privacy. A lower court had previously ruled that the information should be disclosed in cases where school districts’ investigations were insufficient.
----------------------------------------
The case is:
Bellevue John Does 1-11 v. Bellevue School District No. 405
docket number 78603-8.

Opinion here PDF
Dissent here PDF

Moreover, the majority’s analysis fails to account for one of the underlying purposes of the PRA—accountability of public agencies. Because the majority decides that a teacher’s identity is not disclosable where the misconduct is unsubstantiated, and rejects the idea that the adequacy of a school district’s investigation has any bearing on disclosure, the majority leaves school districts free to control whether an accused teacher’s identity must be released by controlling the scope and depth of its investigation.

Drawing the line for disclosure at records relating to unsubstantiated allegations fails to recognize the immense pressures on school districts. First, school districts come under pressure from the teachers and their associations to withhold teachers’ names. At the same time, if the school districts vigorously pursue allegations of sexual misconduct, they face the threat of lawsuits from students and their parents. - from pg. 11

A school district can effectively control whether an accused teacher’s identity must be released by reaching an agreement with the teacher exchanging resignation for silence. - from pg. 12.

Placing the power in the hands of school districts to control, to any extent, whether disclosure is required is incompatible with the PRA. - from pg. 14 [Bolding ours.]

New Iberia, LOUISIANA

July 31, 2008 - Darius Sias, 38, principal of the Alternative Center for Education, was arrested Wednesday, charged with possession of Schedule II narcotics, which authorities identified as cocaine; possession of marijuana; possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and monetary instrument abuse (possession of counterfeit money.)

Investigators recovered marijuana, cocaine and more than $300 in counterfeit money in a search of a house where ongoing drug activity was suspected..

The Alternative Center for Education is designed for students who have special education needs or have been suspended or expelled from other schools. Sias has been the principal of Lee Street Alternative School for about three years and has been with the school system for 14 years.
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A poster at the news story at the Daily Iberian wrote:"This is NO SUPRISE to me! I am a former Westagete student where Sias was asst. principle. He would always act like one of the boys, flirt with all the girls and showed to respect for his position.This is the kind of person we send our children to school with? what a shame! "

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.

Clearwater, FLORIDA

July 31, 2008 - Aaron J. Stewart, 28, was set to teach at Clearwater Middle School this fall and who has worked at various schools in the Pinellas County School district, was arrested on charges of child pornography possession.

Investigators discovered Stewart's possession of child pornography during an undercover internet investigation that identified known images of child pornography and traced the files back to Stewart's computer. A search warrant was executed at Stewart's Clearwater home and his computer was seized, along with additional computer equipment. Stewart admitted to knowingly possessing the images identified during the undercover investigation, many of which appeared to be of children as young as seven or eight years of age.
----------------------
Florida Attorney General's Office Press Release (dated July 31, 2008)
Stewart was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He will be charged with one count of promoting the sexual performance of a child, a second-degree felony, and eight counts of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony.

Richardson, TEXAS

July 31, 2008 - Brent Archie, 31, a Richardson High School teacher and coach , has been arrested and charged with two counts of having a sexual relationship with two high school students.

Police were alerted by a counselor at a Christian camp in Colorado.

The counselor told authorities she learned about the relationship when questioning the girl about an argument she had with her 16-year-old boyfriend.

The girl said she couldn’t break up with him because her “boyfriend knew her secret,” according to the affidavit. The girl told the counselor that she initiated the relationship with Mr. Archie and eventually ended it, the affidavit states.

Initially Archie denied the charges and offered to take a polygraph test. After failing it, police say he confessed. The first victim was age 16. After interviewing a second victim, police say they found out the relationship with the second student began in May 2007 and lasted until July 2008. The girl was 15 when the two first had sex and was 17 when they last had sex.

Archie taught world history and an elective course that focuses on college-readiness skills, according to the school’s Web site.

Payson, UTAH

Well, this was predictable with so many 30-something teachers having sex with teenage boys. You actually have to shoot the student to get on Good Morning America or the View, though.

April 1, 2008 - A husband and wife were arrested recently after police say the man found the woman -- who is a junior high school teacher -- together with a teenage boy.

Jennifer Gonzales, 32, was arrested for having sex with a minor. She is a teacher at Mount Nebo Junior High School in Payson but authorities said the teen boy was not a student there.

The woman's husband, Richard Gonzales, was also arrested after police say he began chasing his wife and the boy with a gun. He was charged with aggravated assault.

April 3 - Gonzales found his wife topless with the teenager. The boy was 16 years old. He told police that he gave Jennifer Gonzales a massage. She teaches children with behavioral problems.

April 4 - New, sordid details are emerging.

According to the affidavit, the woman's husband, Richard Gonzales, returned home early from work to find his wife and the boy downstairs with candles and oils. When Gonzales stormed into the room, he witnessed his wife dressing herself and the boy running out of the room pulling his pants up.

The husband and wife argued about the incident, and according to the affidavit, Richard Gonzales retrieved a 9 mm handgun and waved it at the boy, telling him to get out of the house. He also allegedly pointed it at his wife and threatened to kill her. Gonzales admitted to the allegations during a police interview.

GUILTY PLEA (HER) June 5 - Gonzales pleaded guilty to the two two felony charges of attempted forcible sexual abuse - third-degree felonies. She is scheduled to be sentenced July 28.

GUILTY PLEA (HIM) June 14 - Richard Gonzales pleaded no contest to a class A misdemeanor of using or displaying a dangerous weapon in a fight.

Gonzales came home to Payson one evening in March to find his wife, Jennifer, and their 16-year-old proctor son in the basement, both scrambling to put their clothes back on.

Proctor parents take temporary care of troubled youths in state custody until they can be reunited with their families.

He will be sentenced July 10.

SENTENCED (HER) and (HIM) July 29 - Jennifer Gonzales was sentenced to 180 days in jail - not prison. She was also sentenced to three years of probation and ordered her to complete a sex offender treatment program.

The victim had been in a youth detention center and was placed with the Gonzales family for support. Richard Gonzales filed for divorce after the charges were filed. He was sentenced earlier in the month - on the reduced charge of a class A misdemeanor of using or displaying a dangerous weapon in a fight - to 20 days in jail, which can be served out in the community while wearing an ankle GPS monitor. He also required a nearly $800 fine, plus 18 months of court probation

East Brunswick, NEW JERSEY

Time to update those yearbooks.
We have no idea why it took three years to sentence him.

July 20, 2008 -

Richard Walling, 50, described as "former East Brunswick councilman, disgraced teacher and local historian," was sentenced to 364 days in jail - not prison - in connection with his theft of $32,500 from the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, a volunteer group that works with the state park.

Walling, son of the late East Brunswick Mayor Jean Walling, pleaded guilty in August 2005 to theft. Walling served as the chief executive officer of the group at the time.

The 2005 guilty plea followed another case in which Walling was accused of harassing a 17-year-old female student from the East Brunswick campus of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools where he worked as a teacher. He allegedly sent 17 "sexual and annoying" text messages to her cell phone.

According to a police report, Walling admitted taking the student to a movie, buying her gifts and helping with a traffic summons by speaking to a prosecutor on her behalf.

In November 2004, Walling pleaded guilty to a downgraded disorderly conduct charge in the harassment case. He agreed to give up his teaching license and was ordered to undergo psychological evaluation. He was also fined $500.

Walling once served on the East Brunswick Township Council and Zoning Board.

ARRESTED (Again) July 31 - Walling has again been jailed on charges he violated probation related to a 2005 third-degree theft charge.

Walling was jailed for violating his probation in 2006, when he was charged with failure to report and failure to provide change of address information to authorities. He served 50 days in jail.

According to [Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Brian] Gillet, Walling will likely serve about six months of his jail sentence this time, due to the two months' credit he has accrued from his previous time in the detention center. At the time of his release, his probation will be terminated

At the time of his trial, Walling told the judge that his mental state had been adversely affected by sexual harassment charges filed against him by a former teenage student of his in 2004, and the negative attention they garnered.

A trial by your peers

A jury trial by your peers is bound to lead to problems when you live in New Jersey.

"Rarely had there been such a chasm between how the government and a judge viewed the same case." - Star-Ledger

Feb 29, 2008 - Trying to find a jury for a 2-3 month trial of Newark Mayor Sharpe James hasn't been easy for the court as two people told U.S. District Judge William Martini they didn't want to leave their jobs for the two-to-three month duration of the trial even though they would still receive their salaries. One included a teacher to whom the judge lectured.

About 90 minutes later, Martini interviewed a Ridgewood music teacher, who said although his school district would continue to pay his salary, he didn't feel comfortable being away from his students' lessons and performances.

``A big part of our educational system is teaching students the importance of civic duty,'' Martini gently reminded the Pompton Plains resident.
``I would feel more comfortable being there,'' the potential juror told the judge, who unsuccessfully tried to change his mind.

``Explain that to the political science teachers in your school system. I mean that,'' Martini said as he excused the teacher.

TT - It's New Jersey, for God's sake! These people voted for Sharpe James. Lecturing them about civic responsibility is a wasted effort. James, is also a Democratic state Senator. [Holding two elected offices has been a tradition in N.J.]

SENTENCED (Sorta) July 31, 2008 - Sharpe James was sentenced to prison for 27 months at a (as described by the New York Times,)

simmering five-hour hearing in which he rebuked the prosecution for “heartlessly” adhering to a bureaucratic form of justice. The prosecution had asked for 20 years.

BIZARRE comments by the judge.

In rendering the sentence, Judge William J. Martini of United States District Court blistered the prosecution, saying he was “shocked and disappointed” by the sentencing request and questioning the contention that the James administration had been corrupt for years.

“Don’t talk about a history of corruption unless you can prove it,” Judge Martini, a former Republican congressman, scolded Judith H. Germano, the chief prosecutor in the case. “I don’t want to hear these allegations of a corrupt administration, he’s all-powerful, he didn’t do any good. I’m supposed to throw out the history of a man’s life for misconduct he committed at age 69?”

TT - Well, actually, you should. A lifetime of service is no defense in a criminal court and it should not be a factor in sentencing, not if there is equal justice under our laws. Otherwise, public service is a license to break the law. Federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of between roughly 10 to 15 years, according to a report by the U.S. Probation Department.

Judge Martini was a one-term Congressman who was appointed to the Federal court in 2002 by President Bush.

See Parole Board member praises Sharpe James as role model (July 25)
See Asbury Park press editorial calling for a long sentence for James. (July 26)
See Parole board member once worked as aide to Mayor James (July 28
See The Record editorial "Editorial: Catch and release" (July 31)

See Cast of characters in the trial of ex-Newark mayor
One of James' attorneys is married to author and columnist Anna Quindlen. The other defended top aide to James, Jackie R. Mattison, in 1997. Mattison got 41 months in federal prison for accepting $17,000 in bribes to steer city contracts to an insurance broker, who was also convicted. Other clients included men convicted of being mobsters. [Mattison was also a New Jersey State Assemblyman during that period that he was Chief of Staff for James.)

See James sentence points to shift in Judiciary (Star-Ledger) (July 30)

Rarely had there been such a chasm between how the government and a judge viewed the same case. James and his attorneys walked out of court almost like victors, while U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie vowed to appeal the sentence, something his office does only a few times each year.

See In Newark, More Weariness Than Anger at Sentence (NYTimes) (July 31)

Jacksonville, FLORIDA

July 31, 2008 - Malachy Henry, 53, a Mandarin High School teacher, was sentenced on Thursday to spend 90 days in prison (TT -we're thinking they mean jail, not prison.) for simple battery on five female students. He was convicted of inappropriately touching five teenage girls.

At his sentencing hearing, Henry didn’t admit to do anything to the girls. [sic]

"She said so, and they just took the kid's word and the teachers are thrown under the road so to speak," Henry said in court.

In addition to spending 90 days in prison, Henry will also have to go to three months of treatment.

Four other charges are still pending against Henry from other girls who said Henry also touched them inappropriately and made sexual comments.
Duval County
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ONLINE RESOURCE - You can search for disciplinary actions against teachers in Florida online at Myfloridateacher.com Search by name or just browse the district actions. These are recent Duval County disciplinary actions.

Ambridge, PENNSYLVANIA

School Board member wants tougher screening.

July 30, 2008 - Ambridge School Board Member William Scherfel criticized the district’s hiring process Wednesday before casting the only votes against 16 new hires.

Of particular concern was the possibility of pedophiles seeping into the school system, he said. Scherfel said he didn’t believe any of the candidates were properly screened.“These kids are too important to just indiscriminately hire someone…We already had one pedophile in our school district. We don’t need another one,” Scherfel said, referring to former social studies teacher David Costanza, who was sentenced last year for having sex with a 15-year-old student.

Employees must have criminal background, child abuse and FBI checks to be considered; administrators interview and make recommendations to the board. Scherfel said many pedophiles don’t have records, and said he would invite a professional firm to discuss other screenings with the board next month.

TT - David Costanza, 28, is the son of then-school board president Charles Costanza. He was sentenced to six months to two years in county jail - not prison - followed by 5 years' probation for sex with a 15-year-old girl. At the time of his sentencing in July 2007, two teachers testified on his behalf, one of them slated to be the victim's teacher in the Fall.

Ambridge Area School Board President Dr. Bernard Logan chastised the two teachers.

"I believe you lost sight of the bigger picture," Logan wrote. "Mr. Costanza preyed on a 15-year-old girl. She slept at his house. The relationship went on for weeks. ... How you diminished these actions and testified to his positive contributions, while this girl, the victim, with her family, sat in the courtroom, is beyond my understanding."

Entry for Costanza.

There may not be any screening that will accurately predict teachers who will misbehave. However, there should be tougher sentences for those who sexually abuse students. While states like Louisiana, Kentucky and Arkansas are passing laws to criminalize teacher-student sex, Pennsylvania continues such absurd lenient sentences even for the most lurid cases. It's a state where teacher strikes are common (82 in seven years.) But if you want to know why there's no attempt to correct the situation, you need to look at the corruption that starts at the top.

You'd think they would be ashamed that they make New Jersey look almost respectable.

Hamburg, NEW YORK

Dec 2, 2006 - Ronald Norris, 55, a teacher at Frontier High School in Hamburg, was arrested by Federal agents on charges of possession of child pornography.

The case against Norris grew out of an earlier investigation into a Belarus-based company that provided billing services for child pornography websites and operated child pornography sites of its own. Since Operation Predator was launched in July of 2003, more than 9,233 arrests have been made, including 629 in New York.

Agents found numerous images on his computer and a compact disk.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 31, 2008 - Norris pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of child porn. He was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing digital movies and images of child pornography.

U.S. Department of Justice Press Release (dated July 30, 2008)
Norris sentence also included 5 years of supervised release and a fine of $24,000. He will also surrender his New York state teaching and administrator certificates.

Child Pornography and Educators
TT - List of those sentenced for child pornography.
TT - List of those guilty but not yet sentenced for child pornography.

Nashville, TENNESSEE

Sentenced to three years in prison.

ARRESTED May 15, 2007 - Independence High School teacher Heather Thornsby, 34, has been arrested on charges that she had a sexual relationship with a student.

Thornsby told school officials that she’d been having an inappropriate relationship with a female student, according to the sheriff. She is charged with sexual battery by an authority figure and is being held at the county jail without bail.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Department told Channel 4 News that a parent filed a complaint. They said the complaint alleged improper contact between the teacher and a student. The girl’s parents discovered the relationship after finding a message in her room.

A second female teacher at the school is also being investigated for sex with another female student. Channel 2 news link.
Full Name: Heather Lee Thorsby

Update May 16 - Thornsby bailed out ($10,000) and to remain with her parents who live in Franklin. Thorsby planned to resign at the end of the school year, according to Williamson County Schools Director Rebecca Sharber. She has been suspended without pay.
(Photo courtesy Williamson County Sheriff's Office.)

INDICTED Nov 13 - A grand jury has indicted Thornsby on seven counts related to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student. She is charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means.

Thorsby was arrested on May 15 and charged then with sexual battery by an authority figure. School officials suspended Thorsby without pay on May 11, after she admitted to displaying conduct unbecoming of a teacher.

In May, Williamson County Sheriff Ricky Headley said Thorsby told school officials she’d been having an inappropriate relationship with a female student. Headley said the relationship began as a friendship but turned sexual.

The girl turned 18 in March. Her parents uncovered the relationship after finding a message in her room, Headley said. The parents went to school officials.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 31, 2008 - Thornsby pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and 2 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. She was sentenced to three years in prison.

She was sentenced to three years for each of the five counts but as part of the plea bargain, she will serve the sentences concurrently. She was also required to registry with the state as a sex offender.

Golden, COLORADO

Forty-three year-old father of three pleads guilty to sexual assault of 17-year-old student. Sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years to life of intensive supervision sex offender probation.

Oct 23, 2007 -
William Paxton, 42, a music instructor and color-guard coach at five Jefferson County schools has been arrested, on suspicion of sexual assault and sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust.

The student is 16-years-old.

Sheriff's investigators recently became aware of sexual-assault allegations and believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with more information is urged to contact the tip line at 303-271-5612.

Paxton was employed during the 1995-96 school year as the assistant band director at Arvada High School and in 2006-07 as the instrumental music instructor at Alameda High School.

Through the Rocky Mountain Colorado Guard Association, Paxton also advised, volunteered or consulted at D'Evelyn, Jefferson and Lakewood high schools on an intermittent basis.

Paxton has been termed ineligible for rehire with the district until further notice, said schools spokeswoman Lynn Setzer.

Full Name: William Samuel Paxton

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Press Release (Dated Oct 23, 2007) ( Uses "female students" - plural and states that Paxton served intermittently as both a volunteer and a contract employee.)

Nov 9 - Investigators believe Paxton may have engaged in similar allegations of sexual misconduct with students in the Castle Rock area.

Anyone with more information is urged to contact the Castle Rock Police Department tip line at 720-733-2241.

GUILTY PLEA May 30, 2008 - Paxton pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female student. Paxton was the student's coach in marching band. the student several text messages every day and gave her a cell phone so they could talk. Prosecutors say Paxton then invited the student to his apartment twice where he sexually assaulted her. Paxton is the father of three. He also must serve 10 years to life of intensive supervision as a sex offender.

He will be sentenced in July.

Jefferson County District Attorney's Office has no press release at this time.

SENTENCED July 31 - Paxton was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 10 years to life of intensive supervision sex offender probation.

ABC ch 7: While Paxton was not found to be a sexually violent predator by Colorado’s official designation, District Judge Stephen Munsinger told Paxton before sentencing him Thursday that he did find him to be a sexual predator.

Cabot, ARKANSAS

School superintendent: "“The police came, he handed me his resignation, and they all walked out together.”

March 4, 2008 - Daniel Utter, 34, a middle school teacher and coach, was arrested on campus for an alleged sex crime at his previous school. He is being held on suspicion of second-degree sexual assault for allegedly having sex with a teenage girl at the Cabot School District.

Utter is alleged to have kissed and fondled a girl at Cabot Junior High and later had sex with her on three different occasions in a Jacksonville hotel room in March 2005, according to an affidavit for a warrant of arrest filed in Lonoke County Circuit Court filing.

Utter began coaching senior girls basketball at Paris in August 2007. No allegations made against Utter in the Paris School District. He also taught social studies at the middle school.

GUILTY PLEA July 17 - Utter pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree sexual assault. No sentencing date given.

LEGAL NOTE: (from the story) Under Arkansas law, a person commits second-degree sexual assault if the person engages in sexual contact with someone younger than 18, and the offender is a professional, is in a position of trust or authority, is an employee in the minor’s school or school district.

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

St. Charles, MISSOURI

CHARGES DISMISSED

Jan 18, 2007 - Donna DeWeese, 55, a social studies teacher at Francis Howell North High School, was indicted by a grand jury on a felony stealing charge, accused of taking $16,000 from the Class of 2007's prom fund. She was a class sponsor who oversaw such things as the prom.

Administrators at the School noticed a discrepancy in accounts for the 2006 prom. The district began an internal investigation and turned it over to police when they determined it could be a criminal matter.

DeWeese was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 29. She has been on unpaid leave since she was charged. The grand jury indicted her Nov. 29.
Full name: Donna E. DeWeese
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Case Activity
Disposition Hearing Scheduled for July 25, 2008 at 9:00 am in Division 3 Court Room before Judge Lucy D. Rauch.
Updated June 30, 2008

Court order OCt 12, 2007 that: DEFENDANT'S GAMBLING RECORDS, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AT TRIAL ABSENT THE STATE TO PROVIDE TO THE COURT A SATISFACTORY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ALLEGED MONIES MISSING FROM THE PROM FUND AND THE DEFENDANT'S GAMBLING RECORDS

CHARGES DISMISSED July 28, 2008 - St. Charles County prosecutors on Monday dismissed charges against 56-year-old Donna DeWeese. DeWeese agreed to pay the district $4,500 to recover the cost of insurance coverage for the missing funds. (From Education Week)

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch (July 28) . Charles County Prosecutor Jack Banas said this morning that the thefts couldn't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The school district had one amount for the missing money, St. Peters police another and an accountant hired by DeWeese had yet another number, he said.

Ultimately, Banas said, prosecutors decided to drop the charge after DeWeese paid $4,500 in restitution to the school district's insurance fund.

CHARGES DISMISSED

Sarasota, FLORIDA

Convicted felon taught first grade for a year on a counterfeit teaching certificate.

July 9, 2008 - Susan Bell, 51, a first grade teacher at Suncoast School for Innovative Studies, was arrested and charged with identity theft, fraud and using a counterfeit teaching certificate.

Bell used another woman's teaching certificate to win a job at the Suncoast School for Innovative Studies, a charter school where she taught for about a year before she was outed. Bell then falsified a resume and took a job at the Brickhouse Academy in November, according to reports.
Full Name: Susan Davidson Bell

Sarasota Herald-Tribune (July 10) Police say 2 schools hired felon to teach

"It's not the first time she's done something like this," said Detective Jack Carter.

Bell has been charged at least nine other times with fraud and larceny. In fact, she was convicted in 2002 after she gave Sarasota County School District officials forged recommendation letters and a phony teaching certificate when she applied for a job at Opportunity High School.

They didn't hire her.

TT - A little frightening. She could have been a sex offender. And it makes you wonder what kind of background checks they do at those schools that don't include fingerprints that surely would have identified her.

Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA

It's a good thing, ultimately," she said of her arrest. "I got my life back."

At a routine traffic stop, they found heroin and a syringe in her purse.
"She was coming to school the whole time and she was doing drugs," a student said. "So, it's like, 'You're a liar.'"

May 28, 2008 - Mary Steck, 51, a physics teacher at Perry Traditional Academy, was arrested a mile away from the school on charges of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

According to the criminal complaint, police were in the neighborhood because citizens had reported seeing an increase in drug sales. Shortly after they arrived, narcotics detectives said they witnessed a man Steck was with purchasing the heroin.

Police said the man got out of the vehicle, purchased the drugs and got back inside. When police pulled Steck over, they said they found heroin and a syringe in her purse.

Steck was suspended.
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Perry Traditional Academy is one of ten public high schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Source: Wikipedia The school rates a 2 (with 1 being the lowest) at GreatSchools.net for their test scores.

The district pays $12,559 a year per pupil in the Pittsburgh School District. In May, the school got a rave review for their production of "Urinetown."
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SENTENCED July 10 - A judge sentenced Steck to six months of probation, without a verdict. The drug charges could be dropped if Ms. Steck, who has no prior criminal record and stays out of trouble.

Mary Steck faces losing her job after police caught her buying heroin in May. But she's grateful they caught her. After five years of using drugs, Ms. Steck, 51, said she is now clean.

"I thank the cops for helping me get my life back," the North Side woman said yesterday as she waited for a hearing to begin in City Court. "I have a disease."

She expects to lose her teaching license. But she hopes to get back into the profession some day, after serving her sentence and clearing her record.
TT - This is a woman we can respect. We wish her well with her life.

St. Petersburg, FLORIDA

NO CHARGE.
July 26, 2008 - Prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges against Snieszko.

April 30, 2008 - Darren Snieszko, 25, a Gibbs High School science teacher was arrested on charges that he engaged in inappropriate behavior with students. He was charged with interfering with custody. Police say he encouraged a 16-year-old girl attending Gibbs to go on what he called a field trip to Lowry Park Zoo alone with him.
News Channel 8 has a great arrest photo.

St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman Bill Proffitt characterized the outing as a date. The girl and her mother went to the police station on April 11 to complain. Another female student at the school also is claiming Snieszko took her on a trip, but Snieszko has not been charged in that incident.

The student said Snieszko sent a her a variety of romantic messages using MySpace, cell phone text messages and instant email messages, according to a police report.
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Comment at news story: "AT what point are we going to FIRE the person in charge of the school system?"
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NO CHARGES July 26 - Prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges. School officials began an investigation that found Snieszko didn't have any sexual contact with the girls, but that he became too close to them by taking them to the movies, the zoo and Busch Gardens without informing their parents, said Valerie Brimm, a district administrator.

Brimm said one student said she and Snieszko kissed, though Snieszko told investigators that the student initiated it.

The school district was going to recommend that Snieszko be fired, but gave him the option of resigning. He quit July 1.

"He was very remorseful in saying that in hindsight he made some terrible decisions," Brimm said.

Prosecutors will not pursue the criminal charge because the girl's mother wanted to put the incident behind them, said prosecutor Beverly Andringa.

Lake Mary, FLORIDA

CHARGES DROPPED

Dec 13, 2007 - Michele McGhee, 56, a Heathrow Elementary School third grade teacher, was arrested on a charge of possessing a firearm on school property.

A loaded gun linked to her was found the school grounds Wednesday not far from several children. It was found by a school secretary, along with a cell phone that was traced to McGhee. When deputies examined the handgun, a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver, they found it loaded with five hollow-point bullets.

The district is suspending McGhee with pay pending the outcome of an investigation. The school superintendent will recommend her termination.

An official with the Seminole Education Association, a union that represents Seminole County teachers, said the group has assigned an attorney to defend her.

CHARGES DROPPED July 21, 2008 - Charges have been dropped against a Sanford teacher arrested for bringing a gun to school. The State Attorney's Office said it does appear to be an accident and decided not to press charges.

CHARGES DROPPED

Pembroke Pines, FLORIDA

When he was confronted by a 14-year-old student who accused him of molesting her, Pines Middle School teacher Russell Pittman apologized, police said. Then he told her he loved her.
Police know. They got it on tape.

July 15, 2008 -Pines Middle School band teacher Russell Pittman, 46, was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior against a 14-year-old girl.

Pittman allegedly groped and massaged one of the girl's breasts, then reached inside her shirt and tried to touch her under her bra, the report states. After she pulled away, Pittman left."The victim kept it to herself at first," said Davis. Then she told friends. "They convinced her to tell her mother, who then reported it to us," Davis said.

Detectives quickly set up a telephone call between the girl and Pittman. As the victim talked about what happened, Pittman "continued to apologize to the victim for his actions and explained that he loved her," according to the arrest report.

Pittman has been a teacher at Pines Middle School for more than a decade.
Broward County

Newport, NORTH CAROLINA

July 17, 2008 - Sally A. Whitchurch, 49, an eighth grade math teacher at Newport Middle School, was arrested for felony possession of marijuana and felony maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of a controlled substance.

Also facing charges are her son, daughter and a temporary houseguest. Several growing marijuana plants and various other amounts of the illegal drug were seized Wednesday from the home after a search warrant was executed there.

Whitchurch has worked with the school system since April 1995.

SUSPENDED August 6 - Whitchurch is on suspension with pay for up to 90 days while an internal in-vestigation continues and the criminal case against her proceeds in court, school system officials said.

The suspension took effect Wednesday. According to state statutes, 90 days is the maximum time allowed for the suspension with pay unless the superintendent and employee agree to an extension.

If the superintendent finds there is cause, he may initiate dismissal or demotion proceedings during the suspension period.

If that does not occur, the statutes state, the employee is reinstated to his or her duties and all records of the suspension with pay is removed from their personnel file at their request.

Lansing, MICHIGAN

"Desperate (and horny) Education" Episode #841

July 17, 2008 - Carrie Denbow, 32, a Lansing school district employee, was arrested, accused of having sexual contact with a student from 2006 to 2007. The Ingham County Prosecutor's office says the student was 13-15 years old during this time.

She was arraigned on 7 counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. Those are felony charges. Shehas been on paid administrative leave since December. She is the daughter of Terry Denbow, the head of MSU's University Relations department.
Full Name: Carrie Alice Denbow

She will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 25th.

July 19: Records allege teen, Hill staffer had sex at school
and a party store parking lot and on Michigan State University's campus, according to court documents. The teen has been described as a ward of the court.

Denbow also is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery involving the teen in a Dec. 3, 2007, incident at the Hill Center. No details have been released about the incident.

Denbow is a student assistance provider at the Hill Center. In her job, she helped students with anything from problems at home to problems in the classroom.

Cheyenne, WYOMING

She talked to her students about the dangers of using drugs in classroom DARE program. Feds identify her as a "frequent cocaine customer."

Feb 8, 2008 - Irena F. Mondello, 41, a sixth-grade teacher at Bain Elementary School, 41, was one of 19 people arrested. Police accuse Mondello of being a frequent customer of Steven A. Gibson, 64, a Cheyenne man they say distributed cocaine in the Cheyenne area after getting the drug from sources in the Denver area.

She is charged with two counts each of lying to federal investigators and attempting to possess cocaine.

Mondello told investigators she didn't use cocaine but sometimes ordered the drug from Gibson for her estranged husband, Andrew Mondello, 40, by using her cell phone, according to federal court documents.

Her husband is awaiting trial in Laramie County District Court on a charge of possessing crack cocaine. He told drug agents that he and his wife bought cocaine from Gibson. Gibson claims he sold to both of them. but since their estrangement, he sold to them individually. Another cocaine dealer admits selling to the teacher. In reviewing phone records, authorities allege Irena Mondello used her cell phone to try and contact Gibson 118 times between March 26 and Nov. 2, 2007.

When police arrested Gibson last fall, a search of his home turned up 10 pounds of marijuana and a half pound of cocaine. Police say the ring smuggled more than 100 pounds of cocaine into southeast Wyoming over five years. Authorities estimated the value of the cocaine at $1.6 million.

Irena Mondello has been suspended with pay.

GUILTY PLEA March 26 - Mondello pleaded guilty to a single count of lying to agents during an investigation into a suspected interstate cocaine ring. Mondello's attorney said his client will receive two years of supervised probation instead of prison time for the single count. She will be sentenced June 30.

Mondello is the second teacher charged in connection with the suspected cocaine ring. Mary Dunning, 47, a teacher's assistant at Baggs Elementary, faces two counts of attempting to possess cocaine. TT entry for Dunning.

ARRESTED (Again) & BOND REVOKED - June 19 - Mondello was arrested for driving under the influence. Conditions of her release state that she "shall refrain from any use or possession of alcohol." Her bond was revoked at the bond revocation hearing. Mondello's case now has the potential to head to trial. Her attorney said he would have to renegotiate her plea deal.

SENTENCED - July 26 - Mondello was sentenced to 366 days in prison and three years of supervised release.

Neosho, MISSOURI

Poor judgement.

July 25, 2008 - Debra M. Scott, 42, a Neosho kindergarten teacher, was charged Thursday with six counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

She is accused of driving six female juveniles to a home in Diamond at 12:45 a.m. on July 16 so the group could dump a toilet, two dead armadillos and several bags of trash onto the front yard.

Newton County Prosecutor Jacob Skouby said Scott was charged with child endangerment because she knew before she drove the juveniles to the home in Diamond that they would litter the yard and allegedly commit delinquent acts. Since the minors allegedly violated a law or municipal ordinance, their cases have since been referred to the county juvenile-office system.

Since the cases have been referred to the juvenile system, Scott can be charged with endangering the child in the second-degree, Skouby said.

Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said Scott was issued a summons for her arraignment, but not arrested.

RESIGNATION August 19 - Scott offered her resignation and it was placed on the consent agenda. The letter said she was going to resign from her job immediately.

A pre-trial conference has been set for Sept. 3.

Jasper, TENNESSEE

July 25, 2008 - Jack Owens, 47, a substitute teacher in Marion County schools, was arrested and charged with aggravated statutory rape by an authority figureand solicitation of a minor by electronic means, and carrying a weapon on school property.

Authorities were notified Thursday by the victim's family after explicit text messaged were discovered on the student's phone. The student is described as a 15-year-old student athlete. Police took over the texting as part of the investigation and arraigned a meeting at Marion County High School where they arrested Owens.

The married father of four had been a paramedic at Grandview Medical Center for five years. He serves as athletic trainer for the Marion County High School football team and has been a substitute teacher in Marion County.
Full Name: Jack Clinton Owens
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IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM NewsChannel 9 visited the school to "get answers."

We went to Owens' house, where no one answered the door. And to Marion County High, where we were told to leave.

We were approached by a woman, who didn't identify herself, who told us, "you need to leave, there are kids practicing, you can't do this to the kids."

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Barstow, CALIFORNIA

DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL NOT FILE CHARGES.

Feb 18, 2008 - Gerard Schrader, 56, a teacher at Barstow Junior High School, was arrested on suspicion of child molestation.

He faces charges of committing a lewd act on or with a child under 14-years-old and committing a lewd act with a child aged between 14- and 15-years-old.

Jerry Bergmans, the superintendent of the Barstow Unified School District, said that students brought complaints against Schrader to Susan Levine, assistant superintendent of personnel at the district. He said he did not know specifics about the complaints, but they involved accusations of molestation.
“It involved some of our female students and things that they told our assistant superintendent,” Bergmans said.

Levine, who is a mandated reporter and required to report complaints to the authorities, conducted a small investigation into the allegations on her own and then called the police, Bergmans said. The investigation is now being handled by the Barstow Police Department.

Anyone with information can call the Barstow Police Department at 256-2211.
People with information that wish to remain anonymous can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.

NO CHARGES Michael Fermin, supervising deputy district attorney at the Barstow courthouse, said Friday that the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office elected not to file charges against Gerard Schrader.

Fermin said that based on the information available, his office did not believe it would be able to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, but he declined to elaborate further.

NO CHARGES WILL BE FILED

Riverside, CALIFORNIA

Sentenced to 20 years in prison.

July 5, 2007 - Daniel Metroka, 51, a California School for the Deaf teacher, was arrested and charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child.

The crimes did not involve any students at the school and did not occur at the school. There are allegedly more than one victim under the age of 14. He is being held on $1 million bond.
Full Name: Daniel Ray Metroka

Police ask anyone with additional information to call Riverside Police Detective Roberta Hopewell at 951-353-7124 or CHP Officer Brian Renfro at 951-637-8000.

July 6 - Metroka is married. He will be arraigned July 19.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULED (June 24, 2008) A Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for 07/11/2008.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 23, 2008 - Metroka pleaded guilty to four counts of committing a lewd or lascivious act and was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting two girls, age 5 and 7, that he and his wife were babysitting.