Whippany, NEW JERSEY

November 3, 2008 - Brian Coar, 25, a Whippany Park High School math teacher, pleaded guilty to child endangerment for an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student. (picture at story.)

The charge will be dismissed once he completes three years in a pre-trial intervention program and does 200 hours of community service. Coar surrendered his teaching certificate and promised never to pursue a job in education.

Coar's attorney tried unsuccessfully to get Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan to rule Coar's guilty plea could not be used in a civil case. The family of the girl have filed a notice of intent to sue.

Coar worked at the high school only for the 2007-08 school year.

Redding, CALIFORNIA

Pedophile previously arrested in 2001 on suspicion of touching an 11-year-old girl.

July 3, 2008 - Joshua Hoffman, 26, a fifth-grade teacher at Manzanita Elementary School, was arrested on suspicion of molesting three of his former students. He has been charged with six counts of child molestation.

Hoffman was arrested in August 2001 on by Glendora police on suspicion of touching an 11-year-old girl. The case was dropped by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

California Penal, Education and Labor codes forbid employers from asking about an employee's past arrests that didn't result in a conviction. [TT - Even if they work with children. Go figure.]

In a biography that appeared on the school's Web site until school officials removed it Wednesday, Hoffman wrote that he moved to Redding in March 2007 with his wife. He wrote that he earned a psychology degree and teaching credential from Azusa Pacific University, a Christian college near Los Angeles.
Full Name: Joshua Edward Hoffman

INDICTED August 23 - Hoffman was indicted by the grand jury and is due to go to trial in October 7.

GUILTY PLEA November 3 - Hoffman pleaded guilty this morning to having molested three of his former students. Previously arrested in 2001 on suspicion of touching an 11-year-old girl, that case was not prosecuted. Because of education and labor laws, Hoffman did not have to disclose the arrest when he became a teacher.

Part of the plea bargain was an agreement that he would be psychologically evaluated to see if he is suitable for probation. The results are expected to be announced November 24.

San Jose, CALIFORNIA

Another band director in the news.


August 12, 2008 - James Barany, 37, band director for William C. Overfelt High School, was arrested for attempting to solicit lewd acts from a minor over the Internet. Barany initiated a chat room conversation with a detective he believed was a 13 year-old girl, police said.

During the course of the conversation, Barany agreed to meet with the girl at a location in Santa Cruz where he was arrested. He is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Barany's previous job was as band director at Evergreen Valley High School in San Jose.

Photo: Santa Cruz Police Department

RESIGNATION August 13 - Barany resigned after his arrest. According to police,

Barany contacted the girl within seconds of her logging into a chat room, police said. They chatted on-and-off for much of the day and during the conversation, Barany arranged to meet the girl at an undisclosed location in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, according to police.

Police said he never made it to his destination. He was arrested on Soquel Avenue near Morrissey Boulevard around 3 p.m. The girl was actually a Midwest housewife working with the group Perverted Justice.

IN COURT August 16 - Barany appeared in court Friday but did not enter a plea. He asked for for time to hire his own attorney. He returns to court Sept. 3 to enter a plea.

GUILTY PLEA October 31 - Barany pleaded guilty to one felony count of communicating with a person believed to be a minor for the purpose of arranging a sexual encounter.
He will be sentenced in December. He will have to REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER for the rest of his life.

Mt. Vernon, WASHINGTON

Oct 1, 2007 - Al Gromus, 56, a Mount Vernon High School teacher, was in jail after an attack with a baseball bat Sunday left his wife with skull injuries and a neighbor with a broken ankle.

He was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault involving his 53-year-old wife and a neighbor who tried to intervene in the attack. Both the suspect and his wife work for the school district.

Oct 2 - Gromus has been formally charged with first degree attempted murder.

"She had some facial fractures and a fracture on the back of her head, as well as a fracture to her lower right leg," said Will Reichardt, chief deputy for the Skagit County Sheriff's office.

Full Name: Alan T. Gromus

ARRAIGNMENT Oct 11 - Gromus pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.

Pam Gromus suffered a skull fracture and a broken leg as a result of that attack. She was recovering at home, but we're told she's now back in the hospital because of an infection.

King5 news also reports that former students of Al Gromus are coming forward saying they've seen what happens when Al Gromus becomes angry.

CONVICTED July 11, 2008 - A jury found Gromus guilty of two counts of assault involving use of a deadly weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 15. His attorney, meanwhile, is asking for a retrial.

SENTENCED October 29 - Gromus was sentenced today to more than 20 years (248 months) in prison. Court Judge Michael Rickert denied Gromus' request for a new trial.

Superior, MINNESOTA

October 29, 2008 - Laura Janzig, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of defamation for writing a series of false emails to members of the Superior School District alleging sexual activity between school students and a teacher.

In the e-mails, she Janzig alleged inappropriate behavior between a teacher and several of her male and female students. The accused teacher was put on administrative leave as the allegations were investigated by the Superior Police Department.

The emails were traced to Janzig who was dating a former boyfriend of the teacher.
Full Name: Laura Lee Janzig

Janzig is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1st.

Boise, IDAHO

October 29, 2008 - Mary Zahm, 43, a fourth grade at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Boise, has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter. Police say she was intoxicated at the time of the crash which claimed the life of 83-year-old woman last November.

She was charged in June of this year and turned herself in on the arrest warrant.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18.

Bloomington, ILLINOIS

In May, he had a Bible with him in the courtroom and blew kisses to supporters as security escorted him out of the courtroom.

ARRESTED May 7, 2007 - James Love, 37, a substitute teacher at District 87 and Unit 5, arrested last weekend, was arrested again on new charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery. The new allegations relate to two more victims. Police say the first alleged incident happened at Love's home, and the victim is between 13 and 16 years old.

He was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery for administering an anesthetic agent for other than medical purposes.

Police spokesman Duane Moss says the new charges also involve minors.

Parents and others who may have information on the case to contact Bloomington Police Detective Michael Burns at 434-2457.

Love is a minister at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. His work with youth was cited when he received Bloomington's 2006 Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Award. He also was a substitute teacher in Bloomington and Normal.

Love is, apparently, accused of anesthetizing and molesting a child under age 13.

FOURTH BOY May 16 - A fourth boy has come forward to accuse a former substitute teacher in Twin City schools of molestation. Love is to be arraigned on May 18th.

NOT GUILTY PLEA May 18 - Love pleaded not guilty to molesting four boys at his home. Love is being held in the McLean County Jail on $40,000 bail. He is due back in court June 22.

Love, a youth minister, had a Bible with him in the courtroom and blew kisses to supporters as security escorted him out of the courtroom.

TRIAL SCHEDULED June 22 - Trial has been scheduled for July 22.

TRIAL POSTPONED July 13 - The trial has been postponed at the request of the at prosecutors, who said they are waiting for DNA evidence. A status hearing is scheduled for July 21.

INDICTED Oct 17 - Love has been indicted on federal charges of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney says Love photographed two young boys for the purposes of child pornography.Those images were allegedly among the pornographic pictures found on Love's computer when police searched his home last month. He has been charged with two counts of production of child pornography.

Love will enter a plea to the new charges in Peoria federal court on October 29.
The state case is scheduled for trial on Dec 10.

NOT GUILTY PLEA Oct 29 - Love pleaded not guilty. While the Peoria trial is scheduled for Oct 29, the Federal trial is scheduled for Dec 17.

DELAY GRANTED Nov 21 - Love has been granted a defense request for a delay in his trial until federal charges are settled. His attorney contends that Love would have a better chance of getting a concurrent sentence if his state trial comes after he faces charges in federal court.

He has been granted permission to see his son - but only under supervision.

WJBC: Prosecutor Michelle Brooks also revealed in court there are still other, unidentified victims in pornographic photos found during the investigation and she urges anyone with information to call police. (See note at SENTENCED below.)

TRIAL SCHEDULED Jan 3, 2008 - Love’s federal trial on production of pornography is scheduled to begin in Peoria on Feb. 25. The local case will be on hold until the federal case is over.

INSANITY? Feb 2 - Love's attorney has filed a motion in Federal court maintaining that Love may have been legally insane when he allegedly photographed four teenage boys after sedating and molesting them at his home last year. The attorney says that says Love may be suffering from a mental disease that prevents him from understanding the charges. He has asked the court to order a psychiatric exam to determine if Love is competent to stand trial.

JUDGE ORDERS DELAY Feb 8 - The judge has delayed the trial while Love is evaluated.

GUILTY PLEA September 30 - Love pleaded guilty in Federal court to charges of producing sexually explicit photos of minors while they were sleeping. Under terms of the plea agreement, Love will serve 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing guidelines require Love to complete 85 percent of the prison term.The McLean County charges would be dismissed under the terms of the plea deal.

NOTE: Love has agreed to help prosecutors identify a victim in the photos.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23. That’s when U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm will consider the plea agreement.

STATE CHARGES DROPPED October 29 - State charges against Love have been dropped.

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

Pasadena, CALIFORNIA

Two San Gabriel Valley, California teachers were arrested for child pornography in separate incidents the same day.

Nov 29, 2007 - In Pasadena, David Hassler, 62, a religious studies teacher at Mayfield Senior School School of the Holy Child Jesus, was arrested and has been charged with possession of child pornography. When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers searched his home, they also found numerous printed images of child pornography, downloaded from the Internet.

In Lynwood, Kenneth Kothe, 61, a first grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing child pornography after investigators found hundreds of printed images of child pornography in his home that he actually admitted to downloading. Kothe lives in Alhambra. TT entry for Kothe.

The suspects were arrested this week on state charges, but ICE officials said the agency is considering bringing federal charges against the three men. (The third man was a West Hollywood man.)

Other San Gabriel Valley teachers in the news this past year:
Jonathan Poyner, 21, Rio Hondo Preparatory School in Arcadia - sentenced to 17 years
Philip Sutliff, 34, Arcadia High School - sentenced to 12 years, 8 months
Andrew Barnes, 25, South Hills High School in West Covina, - sentenced to two years in prison
Julio Cardoza, 29, John Muir High School in Pasadena - in prison (no sentencing information found)

NOT GUILTY PLEA Jan 22 - Hassler pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for March 1.

GUILTY PLEA Oct 6 - Hassler pleaded guilty today to a federal charge of possession of child pornography for having hundreds of images on his home computer. He is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer on January 26, 2009.

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

Red Hook, NEW YORK

Children are so vulnerable. Special needs children are especially easy to manipulate.

October 21, 2008 - Mandi Weeks, 27, a Dutchess County teacher, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape. She faces six months in jail and 10 years probation when she is sentenced on Jan. 12, and will become a registered sex offender.

Authorities said the 15-year-old was abused while he was home on break from Devereux a residential school for children with developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders in upstate New York.

North County Gazette (Oct.21) Weeks was employed by Deverreux nd taught at Devereux New York, 40 Devereux Way in Red Hook. She was immediately dismissed upon her arrest.

Brown said that Weeks had intercourse with the 15-year-old boy last summer inside of his Queens home. The victim attends a year-round residential school for children with special needs. He was home on a break when the abuse occurred.

According to [District Attorney Richard] Brown, the investigation began when the victim boarded a subway in an effort to find the defendant and got lost. His mother reported him missing and police, in going through his computer in search of leads, discovered inappropriate e-mails from the defendant.

Tampa, FLORIDA

October 24, 2007 - Christina Butler, 33, a special education teacher at Middleton High School, was arrested and charged with having sex with a ninth grade student.

Butler faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery after detectives say she had sex with a 15-year-old boy who is reportedly one of her students.

She was arrested after police officers stopped teenagers in a car belonging to the teacher.

According to Tampa Police, they pulled over a Jeep Cherokee on 22nd Street after it was spotted driving erratically. Officers say the Jeep was occupied by a group of six teenage boys.

Once officers stopped the vehicle, they determined it belonged to Butler. The driver stated that he did not have a license and his friend Christina let him use the Jeep.

Butler was called to the scene to pick up her vehicle.

While waiting for Butler to arrive, officers spoke with one of the kids, who said the driver was in a relationship with the teacher.

When asked what type of relationship, police say the boy just smiled and said, "I don't ask what they do, they are just good friends," and smiled again.

The officers became suspicious of the possible relationship. According to police, when Christina Butler arrived, she first stated her relationship with the victim was platonic, but then admitted to having a sexual relationship with the student.

Butler has been suspended with pay.

Charge Report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Oct 26 - The school was notified TWICE about Butler's inappropriate relationship with the boy, but the school dismissed the girl's reports as "rumor" and suspended her. TT - Link

Oct 31 - Butler has been hospitalized because of "emotional stress, " according to her lawyer.

[Her attorney, Tom] Fox did not discuss the allegations but said there could be problems with statements Butler made to police last week based on her "long history of mental disorders."

GUILTY October 23 - Butler pleaded guilty today in a Tampa courtroom to all of the charges against her. The charges included contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. The boy was borderline mentally retarded. Prosecutors say there was no plea deal in the case and Butler could get nearly 30 years in prison when she is sentenced December 10.

Reminder: When another student came forward to report Butler, the student was ignored and later suffered a school suspension. School officials have since apologized for the suspension.

Vacaville, CALIFORNIA

In court (again) for parole violation.

Nov 30, 2006 -A trial date has been set for Kenneth Anderson, 56, a 4th grade elementary school teacher. He has been charged with 14 felony counts involving nine students since 1991.

Anderson was arrested in April 2005 and has been suspended by the district. The trial is set for February 15th, 2007.

TRIAL Feb 16, 2007 - The trial is underway and jurors were empaneled.

Following further investigation into the allegations - which also involved what were described as "massages" - the District Attorney's Office filed an amended felony complaint against Anderson, charging a total of 14 counts involving nine students. The latest complaint against Anderson also charges engaging in three or more acts of sexual conduct with a child under 14 years of age during a period of not less than three months.

UPDATE Feb 23 - Anderson testified in his own defense in a jury trial that started last week.

UPDATE Feb 27 - The jury has begun deliberations after a five day trial.

MISTRIAL Feb 28 - A mistrial was declared after the jury deadlocked. will return to Solano County Superior Court March 13 for a readiness conference and setting of a new trial date if the prosecution proceeds with the case.

NO CONTEST PLEA Mar 28 - Anderson has pleaded no contest to committing a lewd act with a child under age 14 and to continuous sexual abuse of a child. In exchange for the plea, his attorney says Anderson will do no prison time.

Chastaine said Anderson did not want to risk spending the rest of his life in prison if he were convicted at a re-trial and did not want to put the families through another trial.

He will be sentenced May 22.

SENTENCING DELAYED May 22 - Sentencing has been delayed while another psychologist examines Anderson. The doctor's report and sentencing is scheduled for June 19, Chastaine said. Apparently, the plea agreement means Anderson will not serve time in state prison but could face a year in county jail.

SENTENCED June 20 - Anderson was sentenced to to one year jail and five years' probation. He gets to serve six months' of his jail time nder electronically monitored home confinement or another alternative to jail. HE MUST ALSO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER.

From the Vacavile Reporter:

The prosecutor in the case, Deputy District Attorney Krishna Abrams, told the court Tuesday that a pre-sentence psychological examination of Anderson indicated that he was an unrepentant pedophile who became aroused during contact with children.

"I've seen no remorse on the part of the defendant," Abrams stated.

BACK IN COURT Jan 26, 2008 - Four days after completion of his six month jail sentence for child molestation, Anderson was in violation of his probation by having webcam contact with two 7-year-old girls.

Abrams said Anderson finished his jail sentence on the molestation conviction on Dec. 21. Four days later, she stated, he is believed to have purchased webcam equipment and made contact with two 7-year-old girls.

"He was less than four days out of custody and he was contacting minors," Abrams charged.

Jan 31 - Anderson admitted violating his probation by having webcam contact with two 7-year-old girls. His lawyer said that he knew he had "technically" violated the order but didn't realize the web-cam contact was inappropriate. NOTE AT STORY:

A story that ran in The Reporter's Jan. 26 edition needs clarification. The article stated that convicted child molester, Kenneth Anderson, had Webcam contact with two seven-year-old girls.

Anderson's daughter, Jennifer George, told the Reporter on Saturday that the two children involved, a boy and a girl, are Anderson's grandchildren and George's children. George said she initiated and approved the Webcam meeting and did not intend for the meeting to violate the terms of Anderson's probation agreement.

After hearing arguments from both attorneys, Judge Harrison scheduled 9 a.m. March 7 for further hearing on the violation and receipt of a supplemental probation report.

March 8 - The judge ordered Anderson's probation reinstated with the warning that any future violation of the agreement could result in the imposition of a state prison sentence.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULED July 31 - Anderson will be back in court Monday on for a preliminary hearing into ammunition and probation violation charges. He is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. In June, Vacaville police reportedly conducted a probation check at his home and turned up a small quantity of ammunition.

THANK YOU for the correction.

Ripley, TENNESSEE

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

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

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

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

Her trial is scheduled to begin October 21.

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

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

Manassas, VIRGINIA

Feb 25, 2008 -
Ted Johnson, 48, an Osbourn High School teacher, was arrested, charged with one count of attempted custodial indecent liberties with a child and misdemeanor sexual battery.

Investigators say a 13-year-old Stafford County girl complained that Johnson had attempted to sexually assault her. She is described as a "non-family member."

Johnson also works as the band director at Mayfield Intermediate School. He has worked for Manassas City schools for 20 years.
Full Name: Ted Thomas Johnson
Stafford County Sheriff's Office Press Release (dated Feb 25, 2008)

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office is asking if there are any other victims of this type of assault by Mr. Johnson to contact the Sheriff's Office at 540-658-4450.

Feb 25 - The Free Lance-Star provides more details.

The victim, who was spending the night with Johnson's daughter, told police that Johnson tried to pull her underwear down as she was sleeping in a guest bedroom on the second floor, the affidavit states.

The girl said she woke up about 6 a.m. Feb. 18 and felt a hand on her left buttocks pulling on her underwear. She rolled over before the underwear came down and saw Johnson kneeling next to the bed.

The girl said she told Johnson to "go" in a firm voice, and he didn't move or say anything. She then ran to his daughter's room down the hall, the affidavit states.

The two girls went to Johnson's wife and told her what had happened. Johnson tried to talk to the girls, court records state, but the visiting girl refused to talk to him. The mother then drove her home.

NEW CHARGES Feb 29 - Two more girls have come forward with molestation allegations against Johnson.

Stafford Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy yesterday announced that Johnson is facing four additional charges involving two other girls.

Both girls claim they were molested at Johnson’s home. Kennedy said one girl was 12 when she was abused in June or July of last year: the other was 13 when the incident involving her happened in September.

The new charges against Johnson are two counts of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

COURT DATE May 29 - Johnson was arraigned Wednesday. He is charged with aggravated sexual battery, two counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery, taking indecent liberties with a minor and two counts of attempted indecent liberties. A jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 15.

GUILTY PLEA October 16 - Johnson pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery and two counts of attempted custodial indecent liberties with a child. Three other charges were dropped.

Johnson had a misdemeanor sexual assault conviction in Michigan in 1982.

Morristown, NEW YORK

April 30, 2008 -
Daniel Frick, 38, a music teacher at Morristown Central School, was arrested yesterday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor for an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

According to St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells, the charges stem from hand-holding, kissing and other inappropriate behavior. The relationship was considered injurious to the mental and moral welfare of the student. The girl was 16.

Frick was previously an instructor at the Salmon River and St. Lawrence Central School districts. He has been a teacher at Morristown for a year and a half. Frick has been suspended with pay.
Full Name: Daniel G. Frick

GUILTY PLEA August 1 - Frick pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor child-endangerment charge July 17th in Morristown Village Court. The investigation revealed Mr. Frick and the girl had sex at the school several times after her 17th birthday, which isn't a crime, investigators said.

Morristown Superintendent Beverly L. Ouderkirk said Thursday that Mr. Frick's employment ends Wednesday. Frick will be sentenced October 2nd.

SENTENCED (Sorta) October 3 - Frick was sentenced 60 days in the St. Lawrence County Jail and three years probation on a guilty plea to a charge of child endangerment. The time is to be served on the weekends.

Burley, IDAHO

Story dated May 9, 2007 - James Pepcorn, 67, a retired teacher, was arrested and charged with one count of rape and one count of lewd conduct with a child under 16 years old.

Pepcorn was hired by Cassia County School District in 1966, and taught at Burley High School for six years. He then transferred to Burley Junior High School, where he taught science until he retired in 1994, according to school district records.

The Pepcorn family indicated he used the threat of violence against family members to prevent disclosure and told them he would never go to jail, which prompted the bond to be set so high.When Pepcorn was arrested he was armed with a 9 mm handgun, but was placed under arrest without incident. He's being held on a $1 million bond. (Bail reduced to $100,000 in June.)
NEW CHARGES Nov 19 - The trial has been delayed. New charges have been added. A Special Prosecutor took over the case when Minidoka County Prosecutor Jason Walker recused himself to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Walker's law firm at the time had represented Pepcorn in a civil matter some years earlier.

A preliminary will be held on the new charges new charges of two counts of lewd conduct and one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16, stem from the testimony of a second alleged victim who has come forward since Pepcorn's arrest in April.

The first victim is now in her 20s. Bail for Pepcorn was originally set at $1 million, then reduced to $100,000 in May. Stipulations for bail reduction require monitoring of his location with a Global Positioning System tracker.

NEW CHARGES Feb 6, 2008 - Judge Rick Bollar found sufficient evidence to move forward with newly-filed lewd conduct and sexual abuse charges against Pepcorn. Since his arrest, new charges have been filed including two counts of lewd conduct and one count of sexual abuse of a minor child.

Charges are expected to be combined as one case at a Feb. 11 hearing

NOT GUILTY PLEA March 10 - Pepcorn pleaded not guilty. He faces several charges of rape and lewd conduct with a minor, recently filed by Fifth District Court Judge John Melanson. Now it needs to be decided if the two cases will be combined before it all goes to trial. A consolidation hearing will be scheduled for April 28.

TENTATIVE TRIAL DATE Judge Melanson has set a tentative June 18th jury trial date, with a June 9th pretrial. We'll know by late April if the two cases can be combined.

GUILTY VERDICT October 3 - A jury deliberated for more than five hours Thursday before finding Pepcorn guilty of 3 counts of lewd conduct with a child, rape and two counts of sexual abuse of a child. A judge had agreed to move the trial to Twin Falls due to excessive pretrial publicity.

SENTENCING DATE Times News (Oct 4) Pepcorn could face life in prison

Pepcorn took the stand in his trial that spanned more than a week. He said he molested other children more than 30 years ago due to a hyperactive sex drive, but stopped after the 1970s.

The statue of limitations has passed on those crimes . He will be sentenced Dec. 15 in Minidoka County.

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.

Bradford, VERMONT

Sept 16, 2007 - Richard Foster, 51, a 6th grade school teacher at Bradford Elementary School, was arrested Friday night on felony crimes against a child. The victim now lives in Florida.

The charges multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault on a minor; lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor; possession of child pornography; use of a child in a sexual performance; and luring a child for sexual exploitation.

After being released on bail, he attempted suicide.

The investigation is continuing and state police urge anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Tim Page at the Bradford barracks at 222-4680.

Sept 17 - WCAS-TV reports:

Police say the boy who had been most abused moved to Florida this summer and the crimes came to light last week when his parents discovered graphic photos of Foster on the boys cell phone. His parents contacted Vermont state police.

Sept 17 - From the Boston Globe: Excerpts from Foster's suicide notes.

Sept 19 - He was released from the hospital. He now faces federal, as well as state, charges -a federal criminal complaint charging him with production of child pornography.

INDICTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: Sept 28 - Foster was indicted by a grand jury on federal child pornography charges. Foster is already facing four felony state sex charges. He is being held without bail at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans.

NEW CHARGES Dec 21 -Foster been charged with six new counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one new count of attempted luring of a child.

MORE VICTIMS - Jan 7, 2008 - Police have identified more victims. The total now is four.

MORE COUNTS Feb 29 - New federal charges have been filed. A federal grand jury has indicted him for nine counts of producing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

GUILTY PLEA September 19 - Foster pleaded guilty to two charges of production of child pornography involving children under the age of 12. Under the plea deal, Foster will be sentenced to at least 25 years in federal prison. He'll also have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. He will be sentenced in December.

He also still faces state charges of sexual assault that could add many more years to the sentence.
---------------
U.S. Department of Justice press release (dated September 19, 2008)

Foster is presently scheduled to be sentenced on December 22, 2008.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the United States will seek a sentence of between 25 and 27 years in prison. Foster has agreed not to seek a sentence of less than 25 years in prison. His ultimate sentence will be determined by the Honorable William K. Sessions III, as advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Under federal law, Foster faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and maximum term of imprisonment of 60 years. He will also be on federal supervised release after serving his prison sentence for a minimum of five years and possibly for life. He must also register as a sex offender.

---------------

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

Craigmont, IDAHO

Washington state teacher arrested in Idaho.

April 16, 2008 - Timothy Kellis, 38, an A.G. West Black Hills High School band director, was arrested and charged in Latah County, Idaho, with one count of sexual abuse of a child, and two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age, all felonies.

The incidents involved two boys and are alleged to have occurred while he was a counselor at a Boy Scout camp in the summer of 2007. The Idaho State police news release stated that :while a counselor at Camp Grizzly, located in Latah County, Idaho, Timothy Andrew Kellis fondled and engaged in lewd and lascivious contact with two minors under the age of 16."

EMPLOYMENT: Kellis worked as a teacher with Highland High School in Idaho from 2001 to 2006, and investigators said he worked at Camp Grizzly in Latah County during the summer of 2007, and may have worked as a counselor during prior years. Kellis is currently a teacher in Tumwater, Washington, where he has worked since 2006. He also is the teacher for one section of the band at Black Lake Elementary School.
Full Name: Timothy Andrew Kellis

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24.

If anyone has any additional information concerning Kellis or any of his activities, they are asked to contact Idaho State Police Detective Bolon at (208) 799-5020.
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TT - The location is usually given as the school where the abuse occurred. However, no allegations of misconduct are alleged in Washington state where he currently teaches.
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April 19 - KLEWtv 3: Idaho State Police say there may be more charges against Kellis. Police say as many as four more boys may come forward.

INDICTED May 15 - A grand jury indicted Kellis with ten counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age and two counts of sexual abuse of a child May 12 in Moscow. The charges supercede the prior charges of lewd conduct and sexual abuse that were filed against Kellis in April. Kellis was arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

GUILTY VERDICT September 19 - A jury convicted Timothy Kellis on 12 felony counts involving four Boy Scouts molested at Camp Grizzly in northern Idaho. Kellis will be sentenced Nov. 12

Lockport, NEW YORK

Jan 12, 2008 - Marcy L. Cole, 35, a Roy B. Kelly Elementary School teacher, was arrested and charged her with felony driving while intoxicated, as well as aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Her license was revoked in October following a DWI arrest in April.

A parent of a pupil in Cole’s classroom said her daughter came home from school on Tuesday and said Cole appeared intoxicated earlier in the day and swore at a pupil before being escorted out of the school.

Lockport School Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone would not address what happened in school on Tuesday. She told The Buffalo News she was unable to discuss personnel matters or health-related issues involving a particular teacher.

Carbone also said she was unaware of Cole’s October conviction and said the Department of Motor Vehicles, according to state law, does not have to inform them of convictions involving employees.

Jan 14 - Cole is no longer in the classroom after a third arrest for driving while intoxicated. This past Thursday, Cole was pulled over on Day Road in the Town of Lockport and charged with felony DWI.

Jan 16 - Lockport School Terry Carbone, Superintendent, 'I knew of a, a..an arrest in April." He says when they learned of her arrest in April, the district laundched an investigation and Cole didn't finish out the "07" school year but she returned last fall. They've decided she won't be finishing off this school year either. Right now Cole is on paid leave.

Feb 6 - Cole appeared Tuesday in court to face charges stemming from her third DWI arrest in one year. CShe was pulled over Jan. 10 on Day Road and charged with felony DWI.She also has a case pending in Royalton in connection with an October traffic stop on Gasport Road.

In November, Cole pleaded guilty in Lockport Town Court to misdemeanor DWI and was sentenced to pay a $500 fine in connection with an April 18 arrest on Beattie Avenue.

GRAND JURY POSSIBLE March 13 - A court appearance was adjourned and the case may be sent to a grand jury. A Royalton Town Court clerk said Thursday the case was expected to be sent to a Niagara County grand jury. Her attorney said that "was not necessarily" the case.

Cole is also scheduled for a court appearance April 1 in Lockport Town Court, in connection with the Jan. 10 arrest. That too, according to her attorney, might be adjourned.

COURT CASE ADJOURNED in Lockport April 1 - Cole was scheduled to appear in Lockport Town Court on a felony DWI charge, but her attorney, Thomas Scirto, said the appearance would be adjourned.

Scirto said this is “probably the last time” the case would be adjourned in Lockport Town Court, though he declined to say what he expects will happen next in the case.

“We have a number of things we’re trying to work out,” he said. “A lot of it is dependent upon what we might be able to work out with the district attorney’s office.”

CASE ADJOURNED in Royalton April 11 - Scheduled for an appearance in Royalton Town Court, her attorney, Thomas Scirto, said the appearance was adjourned.

ARRESTED (AGAIN) June 18 - Cole was arrested for fourth time for DWI in 14 months. She was charged this time with felony driving while intoxicated, first-degree felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, criminal impersonation and other vehicle and traffic infractions.

About the time of her DWI arrest in January, Cole was suspended for the remainder of the school year following several complaints from parents about alleged inappropriate conduct in the classroom, including showing up intoxicated at school. She remains suspended with pay.

The criminal impersonation is because she gave a false name to the officer, mispelling it several times. She attempted to drive away and there was a struggle to get her out of the car.

In court, she pleaded not guilty and denied that she refused to take a breathalyzer test. She refused to acknowledge that she had been read her Miranda rights, instead saying repeatedly, “I don’t care.”

See the video report at KIVB-TV.

SEPARATION AGREEMENT June 18 - The district Board of Education officially accepted Marcy L. Cole’s resignation at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“The district and Ms. Cole have determined that they wish to resolve her status by agreement,” Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone said. “It allows the district to avoid lengthy and costly proceedings under the New York state education law which would have been required by Cole, given her status as a tenured teacher.”

There is a term of separation agreement, the details of which could not be released because it is a personnel matter, Carbone said. The resignation is effective July 1.

On GRAND JURY calendar - June 20 -Her attorney said that the case, along with the Town of Lockport case, will be sent to Niagara County grand jury on July 1. The attorney waived a felony hearing in Royalton Town Court for the charges stemming from Cole’s most recent arrest Monday.

GUILTY PLEA September 3 - Cole pleaded guilty to two felony charges of driving while intoxicated. Cole pleaded guilty to two felony counts of DWI in connection with her arrests on Oct. 7, 2007, and Jan. 10, 2008. She already had a previous DWI conviction, after pleading guilty in October to misdemeanor DWI in connection with an April 18, 2007, traffic stop in the Town of Lockport. She was arrested a fourth time in June on charges of DWI in the Town of Royalton.

She had been out on $10,000 bail, but her bail was revoked Sept. 12 after probation officers reported she tested positive for alcohol twice. Cole is now in custody at the Niagara County Jail.

She will be sentenced November 6.