Lexington, NEBRASKA

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kelsey has an 8-year-old daughter.

Over a hundred comments at the story.

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

Another good comment:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The boy is 13.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legal - ARIZONA

NEW LAWS in Arizona

September 27, 2008 - Several hundred new laws will go into effect Saturday in Arizona. Among them, a law that require any school employee who is arrested to immediately notify his or her employer.

Another law mandates that some employees of private firms that go to public schools be fingerprinted.

Pine Bluff, ARKANSAS

September 19, 2008 - Robert Gatlin, 44, a Coleman Intermediate School 4th grade teacher, was arrested on suspicion of second degree sexual assault.

The investigation began when a boy spoke to his parents and the parents informed the school district and police on September 8th.

Police say he inappropriately touched five 9 and 10 year old girls who were students in his class during this year's spring and fall semesters. Gatlin was fired six years ago from his last job in Kingsland for kissing students.

Full Name: Robert Michael Gatlin

Medina, NEW YORK

September 19, 2008 - Scott D. Ballard, 33, a teacher from the Medina Central School District, was arrested by New York State police, charged with official misconduct for initiating a relationship with two of his students.

The charges relate to situations which occurred in 2004 and 2006 with students over the age of 17 and no longer attending Medina High School.
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Google Map of Medina (through GreatSchools.net)
The population of Medina is Population: 6,216. There are 4 schools with 1934 students in the district.

Rensselaer, INDIANA

September 23, 2008 - Rensselaer Central Middle School art teacher Elliott Zimmer, 27, stopped for speeding, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a narcotic and possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana.

"His alcohol level was below the 0.08 legal limit (to drive), but with the signs of impairment and with marijuana possession, he was taken in," Chief Deputy Terry Risner of the Jasper County Sheriff's Department said.

At the traffic stop, Zimmer consented to a search of the vehicle, where a cigarette box with clear plastic protruding out the top was found in the center console of the vehicle.“The officer found the clear plastic contained a brownish-green leafy substance that the officer felt was marijuana,” Risner said. “There was admission from the suspect of smoking marijuana two hours prior to the traffic stop.”

The Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office is currently reviewing the arrest charges and an initial hearing has yet to be set

Risner said Zimmer was cooperative but refused a urinalysis test. He has been suspended by the school district.
Full Name: Elliott James Zimmer

San Antonio, TEXAS

20,000 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

September 20, 2008 - Dennis Jasso, 33, a former* Sam Houston High School band director, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday on two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing it. FBI agents arrested Jasso Friday.

Jasso's home was searched in December 2007 and computers seized had thousands of images of minors engaging in sexual conduct. F.B.I. agents are calling it one of the largest cases of child pornography they've ever seen in this area.

Investigators told News 4 the sexually explicit images Jasso kept on his computer were of babies to 11-year-olds seen engaging in sex acts with other kids and adults. They said Jasso was sharing the porn with others online.
Full Name: Dennis Joseph Jasso

* Jasso worked at Sam Houston High School from August of 2006 to May of 2007. When arrested, he was realtor at a Keller Williams. He was fired Friday afternoon.
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U.S. Dept. of Justice Press Release (dated September 19, 2008)

On December 21, 2007, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized his personal computer and related media.

A subsequent forensic examination revealed the presence of over 20,000 images depicting minors engage in sexually explicit conduct.

Fairfield, CALIFORNIA

SUICIDE

September 21, 2008 - Fairfield councilman Frank Kardos died of self-inflicted injuries Saturday morning. He was 54. A jury convicted him a day before.

Kardos was scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 31 after being convicted of felony assault and misdemeanor domestic battery for a 2007 strangulation attack on his ex-girlfriend. At the trial, the councilman's ex-wife also testified to a history of violence and abuse during their marriage. He was facing up to four years in prison.

Kardos was arrested Jan. 20, 2007 for allegedly choking his ex-girlfriend, a 55-year-old Fairfield woman, the night before. He was placed on paid administrative leave from his job as assistant principal at Armijo High School in Fairfield.

He remained on the City Council but would have lost his seat and his job at the high school because he had been convicted of a felony, according to his attorney. He was the divorced father of two.

Los Angeles Times (Sept. 21) Convicted Fairfield city councilman dead in an apparent suicide

The community is still reeling from the slaying earlier this month of 22-year-old City Councilman Matt Garcia.

On Saturday, U.S. marshals and Las Vegas police arrested Henry Don Williams in Las Vegas on a murder warrant in connection with Garcia's slaying. Police said they believed Williams and another man, Gene Allen Combs, had intended to collect a drug debt.

Police said Garcia was not involved in drug activity and was visiting a young female friend in the area when he was shot. Garcia was killed on September 1. Three men have been arrested.

Hebron, CONNECTICUT

September 23, 2008 - Bryan Moore, 25, a social studies teacher at RHAM high school - a regional school serving Hebron, Andover and Marlborough - was arrested after a police investigation that began September 17 when they got a tip from the state Department of Children and Families hot line.

He is accused of having inappropriate sexually based online conversations with one of his female students. He was arrested on charges of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor.

Moore is no longer teaching.

Southington, CONNECTICUT

September 23, 2008 - Southington High School social studies teacher William Boulanger, 58, was suspended with pay before the current school year. After learning there was a warrant out for his arrest, he turned himself in to police Sept. 9 on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor amd unlawful restraint.

The incident, described as "isolated" happened in July. The victim was not connected to the school.

Jones, OKLAHOMA

September 27, 2008 - Police arrested Reza Pourdavood, 53, a Langston University professor and Acting Chair of the Mathematics Department, and his wife, Leah Pourdavood, 40, a teacher at Jones Elementary School, on sex abuse charges.

Reza Pourdavood is named in seven complaints of sexual abuse of a child. His wife faces one complaint of enabling sexual child abuse.

Edmond police were notified about the possible abuse of a teenager after the victim went to her high school counselor, according to a police report. The victim told police the abuse had been going on for at least seven years.
Full Name: Reza Ross Pourdavood
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REMINDER that the location is always for the school. In this case, the elementary school where the wife works.

Franklin, NEW YORK

New charges bring the number of alleged victims to five.

September 27, 2008 - Robert R. Becker, Jr., 36, a substitute teacher's aide at Franklin Central School, was arrested Friday after he was indicted on four more charges of child sexual abuse, including first-degree rape.

After his arrest, he was arraigned on felony charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor charges of second-degree unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Becker was arrested in September and arraigned Sept. 15 on three counts of third-degree rape; one count of third-degree criminal sexual act; four counts of endangering the welfare of a child; and one count of second-degree attempted sexual abuse.He pleaded innocent to charges of having sex with a student and attempting to have sexual contact with two other students.

Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said the new charges bring the number of alleged victims to five.
------------------
LOCALE: Franklin is a small rural community located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountain Region of New York State, located about one-hour from Binghamton, Utica, Albany and three and one-half hours from New York City.
Delaware County

Canton, GEORGIA

September 27, 2008 - Cherokee High School drama teacher Matthew Gantz, 41, was arrested Saturday. Detectives said Gantz assaulted the female student when she was 17. The student told authorities that the assaults began in 2007.

Gantz is charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of tampering with evidence.
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SCHOOL INFO: Cherokee High School rates a 10 (with 10 being the highest) at GreatSchools.net
Google Map (via GreatSchools)

There is no current press release on the arrest from the Cherokee Sheriff's Office.
Wikipedia entry for Canton, Georgia.

Dayton, OHIO

Cue Twilight Zone music.

September 27, 2008 - Daniel Kincaid, 46, principal at Emerson Academy, a Dayton charter school, was arrested this week after leading Indiana police on a chase on Interstate 70 after which he told officers he sometimes "loses touch with reality" and was afraid every car around him was chasing him.

He made those comments during an interview with Greenfield (Ind.) police following his arrest Monday, Sept. 22, after a nearly 12-mile pursuit that ended with him crashing his SUV into a Knightstown, Ind., gas station. Kincaid was charged with fleeing, resisting arrest, reckless driving, criminal recklessness and possession of paraphernalia, police said.

Near the beginning of the chase, he tossed a cooler out of his car window that contained syringes and cotton swabs.Officers found business cards for three separate psychiatric doctors in Kincaid's wallet.

Tampa, FLORIDA

September 26, 2008 - John Ring, 37, a Memorial Middle School teacher assistant, was arrested and charged with soliciting sex and child porn from a 17-year-old girl.

The girl contacted police in March after Ring sent her a text message soliciting sex and asking to take pornographic pictures of her, according to police. He arranged to meet her at 9 p.m. Thursday outside a church on MacDill Avenue not far from his home, and when he showed up he was arrested, police said.

Ring started making sexual comments to the girl when she was 14. The suspect met the victim through her mother. The girl never attended Memorial.
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ONLINE RESOURCE: The Florida Department of Education Office of Professional Practices maintains an online record of discplinary actions against educators licenses dating back to Jan 1, 2005. You can search by name or browse through the any district (through the dropdown menu.) Tampa is in Hillsborough County.
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SCHOOL INFO: The school rates a 2 (with 10 being highest) at GreatSchools.net for some truly awful test scores. Student population is 53% Hispanic, 23% Black and 18% White. Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program at this school = 80%. Only 19% are English language learners.

Dinwiddie, VIRGINIA

How do you explain something like that to middle schoolers?

September 26, 2008 - Deborah Madison, 47, a Dinwiddie Middle School physical education teacher, will appear in court next month on a charge of possessing a residual amount of cocaine found in her car during a traffic stop.

She was arrested Sept. 16 after a Dinwiddie deputy sheriff found a smoking device in her car with a trace amount of cocaine. Among her duties at the school is to instruct students on the dangers of drugs, through a program called "Too Good for Drugs," officials said.

She has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.
Full Name: Deborah Stone Madison

Redlands, CALIFORNIA

The arrest wasn't made public before because it had nothing to do with Vogt's personal life. -- Which makes absolutely no sense.

September 26, 2008 - David Vogt, 42, a Cope Middle School math teacher, was arrested August 23 for first-degree burglary, grand theft of personal property and stalking. Police spokesman Carl Baker said the arrest wasn't made public before because it had nothing to do with Vogt's personal life.

Vogt allegedly entered the home and trailer of an unidentified woman and took money and a laptop computer. The documents stated the combined value of the money and computer exceeded $400. The documents also stated that Vogt maliciously and repeatedly followed and harassed the woman and made a credible threat with the intent she would be placed in reasonable fear for her safety and the safety of her immediate family.

INTRIGUING, and makes you wonder why they asked the question: "Vogt is being held at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in Devore. When asked if Vogt would be allowed visitors, a Glen Helen operator, known only as Operator 29, said he is being disciplined and is not allowed to see visitors."
Full Name: David Allen Vogt

West Hartford, CONNECTICUT

September 26, 2008 - Julie A. Denno, 27, a former teacher at the American School for the Deaf, is facing charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor after allegedly engaging in a relationship that included "inappropriate physical contact" and sexually charged text messages with a 15-year-old boy over a period of several months. (Other stories say they haven't released the age of the student to avoid identifying him.)

Police began investigating in February, when the boy's mother contacted them about Denno's alleged conduct, which took place between December 2007 and January 2008.
The school suspended her without pay several months and then fired her as the investigation unfolded.

Denno is a single mother of a two-year-old boy. She is currently living with her parents in New York. She was originally placed on a $75,000 bail that was subsequently reduced.

Ansonia, CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Post: (Sept 22) - Man in Taser case faces drug charges
Police on June 23 used a Taser to subdue and handcuff Daniel Buzi, 26, an Ansonia High School English teacher, following his alleged use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. He allegedly went berserk after using hallucinogenic mushrooms, punched out a bedroom window and refused to comply with police. Two other men were arrested. Police found 20 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms and drug paraphernalia.

September 26, 2008 - School officials did not notify parents of the arrest of Daniel Buzi.
He is scheduled to appear Oct. 7 in court.

Goffstown, NEW HAMPSHIRE

September 26, 2008 - Jennifer Simard, 24, a substitute teacher's aide in the Goffstown School District, was arrested yesterday. She was charged with two counts of prohibited use of computer services for sexually explicit IM conversations with a boy. Both are Class B felonies.

A indictment handed up by a Hillsborough County grand jury Sept. 19 cites two sexually explicit conservations Simard allegedly had with the boy in August and September. She also is accused of talking with the boy about how he could keep his parents from finding out about them, the indictment alleges. The boy is a student in the Goffstown district, according to the administration. Because he is younger than 16, he is considered a child, according to the indictment.

Simard was told before the new school year, that her services would no longer be needed. She is being held without bail pending arraignment.

Berkeley, CALIFORNIA

Evans was a teacher at Encinal High School in Alameda.
The judge wondered if six years was too light.

Dec 5, 2007 - Eugene Evans, 64, a former teacher and Sea Scout leader, was arrested and accused of molesting four boys during scouting excursions on his boat.

ARRAIGNED Dec 6 - Evans was arraigned on six felony counts of oral copulation with a minor, engaging in substantial sexual acts with a minor, penetration with a foreign object and showing or distributing lewd material to a minor.

Evans is accused of having sexual relations with four boys, ages 13 to 17, aboard the S.S.S. Farallon, the 85-foot ship used for the Sea Scouts program, over the last five years. Police said the investigation was launched on Nov. 14 when a boy and his parents came to Berkeley police with claims that Evans had molested the boy. The boy gave police the names of others he believed could be victims and three of those boys also claimed they were molested by Evans.

Evans taught at Alameda High School for about a decade and then moved to Encinal High where he taught for the remainder of his 31-year career. He taught social studies and retired in June 2004, she said
Full Name: Eugene Austin Evans

GUILTY PLEA Under a plea agreement, Evans pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation Monday. Numerous other counts of child molestation and showing of pornography to minors was dropped. He will also have to register as a sexual offender He is expected to spend six years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 14.

SENTENCED September 16 - Evans was sentenced to six years in prison.

As Eugene Austin Evans, 65, of Kensington was led away in handcuffs from an Oakland courtroom, three rows of supporters stood in recognition, apparently refusing to accept his admission minutes earlier that he had been molesting boys on his boat, the SSS Farallon, for 30 years and warning them that "what happens on the boat stays on the boat."

Some of the support, apparently, caused the judge to react.

Judge Morris Jacobson asked Evans in Tuesday's hearing in Alameda County Superior Court if he was guilty of the charges against him, and Evans said, "Yes, your honor." The judge addressed Evans' supporters - many of them former members of the Berkeley Sea Scouts, clad in shirts emblazoned with "Farallon" - and said the evidence contradicted their belief in their mentor's innocence.

The judge said he was "struck by the tenor" of numerous letters written in support of Evans. The writers either excused Evans' behavior or denied it outright and accused prosecutors of disgracing the justice system by presenting a contrived case against him, Jacobson said.

Evans will be a registered sex offender.

NBC11 (September 16) East Bay Scout Leader Sentenced For Molesting Children

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson took the unusual step of having Evans admit his long history of sexual abuse on the record in an effort to convince Evans' many supporters that he in fact abused boys and wasn't framed.

There were 20 supporters in the courtroom.

Jacobson said, "I appreciate that Mr. Evans has done some very good things in his 30 years with the Sea Scouts but I noted with some concern about the letters from his supporters which seek to excuse or deny the allegations against him."
The judge said he was so concerned that he asked both Torrence and defense attorney Philip Schnayerson if the proposed six-year sentence for Evans was too light.

TT - These are the same people who would accept any and all charges against Catholic priests, but deny the victims of this man similar justice.

Saratoga Springs, NEW YORK

September 17, 2008 - Thomas Filion, 68, a a former teacher at various schools in the Saratoga Springs area (and a certified school guidance counselor,) pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child.for touching a15-year-old boy in the shower at the city YMCA.

Filion was arrested November of 2007 after a three-week investigation. He approached the teen in the shower and grabbed his genitals. The boy did not know him.

D.A. James Murphy said he was seeking jail time as well as a surrender of teaching certificates, lifetime registration on the sex offender registry and an order of protection against the boy and the YMCA. Filion will be sentenced November 17

Monument, COLORADO

Dec 20, 2007 -
Gregory Jackson, a math teacher at Lewis Palmer Middle School, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

Two female students said that Jackson touched them in an inappropriate sexual manner while in his capacity as a basketball coach. Jackson has been placed on paid leave.

Police ask that anyone who may have information regarding this situation to contact Detective Jerry Day at 719-520-7291.

GUILTY PLEA September 16, 2008 - Jackson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge in Colorado Springs. He had faced five counts of felony sexual assault. Prosecutors dropped those charges as part of the plea deal. Jackson agreed to surrender his teaching certificate for a year while he is on probation.

He no longer works for the district.
------------------
TT - Colorado, like Tennessee, is not known for robust sentencing of teachers. Partly inept prosecution and partly politics, those are great states if you want to sexually engage students and still be able to teach. Thanks, however, to the Internet and news archives, it's unlikely that anyone outside of Colorado will hire such people in the future.

And if we were state directors of education, we would look very closely at any teachers who were previously employed in these two states.

Colorado Springs, COLORADO

Feb 15, 2008 -
Lloyd Clark, 73, a substitute teacher is "speechless" that he was arrested after allegedly offering money to a student in exchange for sex. He is charged with felony of solicitation for child prostitution.

The incident happened at Wasson High School in Colorado Springs School District 11.

ARREST AFFIDAVIT Feb 20 - An arrest affidavit obtained by 11 News reveals disturbing details about what a District 11 substitute teacher allegedly asked a student to do in a recorded phone conversation.

Documents say 73-year-old Lloyd Clark offered a 15-year-old boy as much as $5,000 to perform sexual acts. The first incident allegedly happened in a classroom at Wasson High School last Thursday. The student immediately contacted the school resource officer.

According to the arrest affidavit, detectives then set up a recorded phone conversation between the alleged victim and Clark. In the conversation, a detective says Clark reiterated the agreement he allegedly made with the student earlier that day.

Feb 27 - Clark, who remains free on $10,000 bail, was ordered to return to court April 23 for a possible disposition.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING (Sorta) September 17 - Clark pleaded guilty to o a charge of misdemeanor harassment, unlawful conduct on public property, as part of an agreement with prosecutors. A felony charge of solicitation for child prostitution was dropped, court records show.

Fourth Judicial District Judge Gregory Werner sentenced Clark to one year of supervised probation, ordered him to relinquish his teaching certificate for a year and ordered that he have no contact with anyone younger than 18 years old except family members.

Clark was the second former teacher this week to be accused of felony sexual misconduct with a student, then to plead guilty to a non-sex-related misdemeanor. A former Lewis-Palmer Middle School teacher and girls basketball coach, Gregory Jackson, pleaded guilty to harassment Monday after being charged with felony sexual assault on a child.

TT Entry for Jackson.

TT - Surely it is the responsiility of the Department of Education to impose sanctions on Clark's teaching certificate. Perhaps the judge didn't trust that they would do anything.

Sun Valley, CALIFORNIA

September 18, 2008 - Ricardo Flores, 32, a teacher at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, was charged Thursday with sexually molesting two female students. The girls are 11 and 12. (Ages from LA Co District Attorney press release.)

Police started investigating Flores after the 12-year-old told a camp counselor at a summer day camp about the abuse she endured at school. Police believe there may be other victims.

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed 10 counts Lewd Acts upon Child under 14, against Flores Thursday and set bail at $1 million.
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Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Moses Castillo, Juvenile Division, at (213) 485-6550.

After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855) or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.

Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, www.lapdonline.org.
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Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Press Release (dated Sept 18, 2008)

Ghost Employees

No jobs for the unemployed, but plenty for family members and campaign workers.

Nov 14, 2007 - A former Democrat representative was charged with felony conflict-of-interest counts in a public corruption investigation. Frank LaGrotta was charged with hiring his sister and niece as legislative aides and paying them thousands of dollars for work they never performed.

His sister Ann Bartolomeo was a contract "education consultant" but the grand jury presentment alleges that she continued to work full-time as an Ellwood City elementary school teacher instead.

LaGrotta, whose district included parts of Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, served 10 terms before he lost the Democratic nomination in the May 2006 primary amid voter outrage over a 2005 legislative pay raise that was later rescinded.

LaGrotta, 49, of Ellwood City, later was hired as a consultant to the House Democratic caucus, but let go July 31 after an internal review "uncovered information" about LaGrotta, House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese said last month.
DeWeese said he provided the information to Corbett's office, but would not elaborate on what it was.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing unidentified sources, reported last month that LaGrotta was also speaking with state investigators about the House Democratic caucus' use of legislative staffers for partisan political work.

In the late 1970s, a major scandal over the use of ghost state workers led to a guilty plea by Senate Appropriations Chairman Henry J. "Buddy" Cianfrani, D-Philadelphia, to racketeering and other charges. The man who succeeded him, Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, was convicted in 1979 of putting ghost workers on the state payroll, but the conviction was later overturned.

Bartholomew's daughter, Alissa Lemmon, 24, was also charged.

The charges come a day after seven top House Democratic staffers were forced out of their jobs in a move related to the bonus probe.

TT - We found a 2004 article in The Nation by LaGrotta on -- workers who want jobs. He had to tell them there are no state jobs. Go figure. There was money for other things. The "bonus probe" is some $4 million in bonuses given to House employees who worked on campaigns for Democrat incumbents.

And, OOPS, LaGotta's office papers destined for the state archives, were accidentally discarded.

SAGA CONTINUES Nov 15 - The sister and daughter were paid $25,000. Prosecutors also said that House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese co-signed with LaGrotta a June 2006 agreement that backdated by four months the hiring of LaGrotta's sister as an education consultant. DeWeese's chief of staff resigned. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that DeWeese asked him to resign as part of a bid to distance the Democratic caucus from the bonus investigation.

EXPECTED TO PLEA Jan 31, 2008 - LaGrotta is expected to enter a plea on Monday when his trial is scheduled to begin.

PLEA and SENTENCING (Sorta) Feb 4 - LaGrotta was sentenced to six months house arrest and 30 months on probation after pleading guilty to two felony charges. His sister and his neice pleaded no contest to lying to a grand jury and received probation.

The reason we followed LaGrotta was because of his position on the Appropriations Committee where he chaired the Subcommittee on the capital budget. He also worked as a sports journalist for Gannett News Service (USA Today) in the 1980s after which he moved straight into the higher ranks in Pennyslvania state politics. These are people who oversee the state Board of Education and the Secretary of Education.

Pennsylvania Attorney General press release on indictment. (Dated Nov 14, 2007)

CONSEQUENCES (NOT) Feb 11 - Bartolomeo is still working as a teacher and the district does not plan to dismiss or discipline her, according to the Beaver County Times.

FIRED September 26 - Bartolomeo was fired. Bartolomeo surrendered her teaching license in August after a complaint was filed. The school board then suspended her, noting she couldn't teach without it.
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ONLINE RESOURCE: The Pennsylvania Department of Education lists Disciplinary Actions taken against teaching certificates. It should be noted that in Pennsylvania, to their credit, a teacher does not have to be convicted of, or even arrested for, criminal misconduct in order for their license to be revoked for inappropriate behavior with students.

Chico, CALIFORNIA

We thought it was an article from The Onion.

March 5, 2008 - A Hebrew teacher was arrested after police found 45 pounds of processed marijuana in her house. A student said she was a good teacher and more easy-going in her teaching style. She was the only instructor to teach conversational Hebrew.

From The Orion Online: Elaine Ilana Meiri, 42, was arrested Thursday and pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of possession of marijuana for sale, selling or transporting marijuana, child endangerment and three counts of possession of controlled substances.

Police found about 45 pounds of processed marijuana, packaging materials, computers, prescription medications, controlled substances and more than $4,500 in cash in her house, and a 12-year-old boy at the house was turned in to Child Protective Services. Police do not know Meiri's relationship to the child.

A search warrant was issued after a suspicious package was reported at a Chico UPS Store on Feb. 26, police said. The package allegedly contained more than three pounds of marijuana Meiri tried to send to Hawaii.

Denver Troyer, 56, who police said might be Meiri's roommate, was also arrested. Meiri and Troyer are being held until they can prove they did not use money from the sale of drugs to post bail.

The Orion is the student-run newspaper of the journalism department at Chico State University.
March 7 - Prosecutors agreed in court Thursday the money being used to post bond for a Chico State University instructor, charged with attempted sales of a large amount of marijuana, is legitimate. Prosecutors had agreed to postpone the pretrial hearing several weeks, but Troyer, who, like Meiri has pleaded not guilty to possession and sale of marijuana, refused to waive his right to a speedy hearing.

Meier's attorney is a tenured professor at Chico State.

BIZARRE SENTENCING September 26 - Meier was sentenced (sorta) to 180 days in jail - for 45 pounds of marijuana. The judge ordered her to write an essay about the hazards of the drug on the human body.
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She pleaded guilty August 7 to possession of marijuana.

Portland, TENNESSEE

September 26, 2008 - Portland High School math teacher Sandy L. Binkley, 36, was arrested and charged with statutory rape by an authority figure.

She is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old Portland High student in March 2008. Parents of the student reported the incident to Portland High Principal Bob Gideon. A police investigation indicated that Binkley and the student had sex at the school during school.

According to police, Binkley admitted to having sex with the student. According to police, Binkley admitted to having sex with the student.

She is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court on Oct. 8
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WE FOUND: Portland High School rates a 3 (with 10 being the highest) at GreatSchools.net.
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Tampa, FLORIDA

September 24, 2008 - Wildalynn Harris, 23, a fourth grade teacher at Turner Elementary School, was arrested early Tuesday morning after police found her in a marijuana grow house.

She was arrested when police executed a search warrant at an apartment. They also arrested Shawn Crane, 24, who lives at the apartment. In the apartment, police found 16 marijuana plants and about 200 grams - or 7 ounces -of marijuana packaged for sale, authorities said.
Investigators also seized $6,225 cash, scales and packaging material.

Both were charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Harris taught at Hunter's Green Elementary School in 2007-08.

Jackson, MISSISSIPPI

September 23, 2008 - Sheral Smith, 37, has been charged with statutory rape and transferring a controlled substance. Smith was a teacher at New Summit school. Since her arrest, Smith has been fired from the private school. She'd been a teacher at the schiool for only three weeks.

She is accused or having sex with a 14 year-old student in her Brandon home. Investigators say they think the 37-year-old wife and mother of two boys may have drugged her victim before the incident.

She was arrested Wednesday night. Smith has not been indicted. her case will be presented to a grand jury.
Full Name: Sheral Lee Smith

INDICTED December 7 - A Rankin County grand jury indicted Smith on four counts of statutory rape. Smith's trial has been set for July 2009. She is also facing statutory rape and sexual battery charges in Hinds County against the same teen. Those charges are pending.

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