Ocean City, NEW JERSEY

“When we reach a point in society when we as parents can no longer safely and reliably entrust our children to the care of those professionally responsible, we are bankrupt as a culture,” the judge said. “How does it stop? When does it stop?”

May 15, 2008 - Robert Dilullo, 24, a substitute at Ocean City High School, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and providing alcohol to a minor in connection with a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

It is alleged that he had sex with a high school student beginning when she was 16. The relationship reportedly began in December 2006. Police said Dilullo raped the girl in August 2007, when he invited her to his Seaville home in Upper Township. Police said he gave her alcohol and raped her while she was inebriated and unconscious.

Dilullo now works as a restaurant cook. A counselor who learned of the incidents, earlier this month, reported them to the Division of Youth and Family Services, which reported them to the Cape May Co. Prosecutors Office.

Dilullo did not teach in the district this year, whether that was his choice or the district's choice. Police said they want to know if the accused teacher had sex with any other students.

GUILTY PLEA August 16 - Dilullo pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child in a nonsexual manner and agreed to never again seek employment as a teacher. The plea agreement also includes five years of probation along with 364 days in the Cape May County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 31.

SENTENCED October 31 - Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten sentenced to a year in jail for providing alcohol to a student. Dilullo will have to serve 77 of the 364 days before he is eligible for parole. He will not be allowed to teach again or serve in public office.

Assistant Prosecutor Matthew D. Weintraub repeated the allegation Friday that DiLullo had oral sex with the student at his Upper Township home. In a victim-impact statement, the girl, not identified in court, said DiLullo should have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

Judge Raymond Batten said cases in which authority figures have inappropriate relationships with minors are becoming all too prevalent in Cape May County. He said he sentenced DiLullo to the year term to deter other would-be criminals.

“When we reach a point in society when we as parents can no longer safely and reliably entrust our children to the care of those professionally responsible, we are bankrupt as a culture,” he said. “How does it stop? When does it stop?”

Leonardtown, MARYLAND

April 3, 2008 - David Guillemette, 54, a substitute teacher in St. Mary's county, was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sex offense and second-degree assault.

The arrest was a result of an investigation into an incident with a 15-year-old female visitor at Guillemette's home that occurred on January 1, 2008.
Full Name: David Emile Guillemette
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TT - A second school employee, Scott Strandberg Jr., 24, a Leonardtown High School drum line coach, was arrested April 10 after police learned of the coach having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student. TT entry for Strandberg.
Standberg’s trial is set for late September.
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TRIAL SCHEDULED May 11 - Trial is scheduled for August. Source: Court search
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GUILTY PLEA and SENTENCING (Sorta) August 27 - Guillemette pleaded guilty to a third-degree sexual offense and was sentenced to five years in prison -- suspended to an 18-month jail sentence -- and four years of supervised probation. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

The victim’s family agreed to the plea deal. Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Stamm said the family’s wishes were “the only reason” he agreed to the plea deal.

If Guillemette has any contact with the victim going forward, Judge Stamm said he would do the remainder of his sentence from a state penitentiary.

“I’d have no qualms about sending you to the Department of Corrections,” Judge Stamm said. “You’ve done something she’ll never forget and I find that inexcusable. “You’re to have no contact whatsoever with the victim… if you see her walk into a store you leave by going out the back way.”

Elkridge, MARYLAND

Request denied for sentence review.

August 14, 2008 - Uppercase Judge Howard County Circuit Court Judge Richard Bernhardt denied a request by Joseph Samuel Ellis to have his sentence reviewed and possibly modified.

Ellis was sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found him guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, indecent exposure and telephone misuse.

In a motion filed with the Howard County Circuit Court on July 24, Ellis' attorney, Andrew Levy, requested that the court hold a hearing one year after Ellis' conviction to allow Ellis "to make a showing as to his rehabilitation and why and how his sentence should be modified."

According to the motion, Ellis is currently in group therapy and tutors his fellow inmates who are working toward their GEDs.

TT entry for Ellis.

At his sentencing, a victim wrote, "Every girl looks forward to her senior year in high school," the victim wrote. "I would rather die than have to relive it."

Salem, VIRGINIA

The original plea agreement called for three years probation, but Botetourt the judge increased it to five. After consulting with Yates, the defense attorney asked the judge to keep the agreement unchanged, but the judge refused, angrily telling Yates, "I was a former teacher."




Dec 17, 2007 -
Christopher Yates, 30, band director of Glenvar High School, was arrested, charged with taking indecent liberties with a female student.

His bond is set at $12,000, pending at hearing at Jan 22.

Roanoke County police say they're investigating an allegation against Yates there as well. It could result in additional charges. The events are alleged to have occurred from July 1st to October 4th of this year.
Full Name: Christopher Matthew Yates
Nickname: Matt Yates

INDEFINITE LEAVE Dec 18 - According to the school administration, Yates has been put on "indefinite leave." Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle confirmed for News-7 the alleged victim in this case actually lived with Yates and his wife. Yates is due back in court on January 22.

PLEA AGREEMENT April 17, 2008 - WBDJ 7 is reporting that

The Commonwealth's Attorney has reached an agreement with the former teacher so that he will plead guilty to a felony in July.

The Troutville resident will be sentenced to three years, but will only serve six months under the agreement. Once Yates gets out, he will be on probation and have to register as a sex offender.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING (sorta) July 25 - Yates pleated guilty to a felony count of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He was sentenced to three years in prison with all but six months suspended, and five years of supervised probation after his release. Yates will also have to register as a sex offender.

Summarizing the evidence against Yates, Assistant Botetourt Commonwealth's Attorney Hilary Griffith said the girl had been abandoned by her parents and was living with her sister in Salem, but her sister threw her out.

Yates and his wife took her into their home and obtained legal custody of her. At first, Yates and the girl had a relationship like that of a father and daughter, but the relationship turned sexual after she moved in with him.

The original plea agreement called for three years probation, but Botetourt Circuit Court Judge Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo increased it to five. After consulting with Yates, the defense attorney asked the judge to keep the agreement unchanged, but the judge refused, angrily telling Yates, "I was a former teacher.

After a brief break in the hearing, Yates agreed to the new terms.

Yates was briefly granted a furlough when his wife gave birth in July.

OurValley.org: (July 24) - Former Glenvar band director sentenced for having sex with student

“I want to publicly apologize. I’ve spoken to some of my close friends, and have gained their forgiveness, but I haven’t been able to speak to the Glenvar community…or to my band students. I’m very sorry,” Yates said to the group of friends, Glenvar Band Boosters and other supporters in the courtroom. His wife and newborn baby were among them.

Although the Virginia sentencing guidelines did not call for any jail sentence, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Hilary Griffith said she asked for jail time since Yates was acting as a substitute parent for the girl.

TT - We'll take flak for this, but...
There's seems to be a pathological moral deficiency in many band boosters. We aren't sure if this is because band directors become surrogate parents for their children and the adults are in full denial of the harm done by the band instructor. Or if they really are rah rah nitwits completely lacking in a moral compass and a lack of social responsibility.

But there's something unwholesome about such support long after it becomes apparent that the band director or band teacher is flagrantly guilty of sexual abuse of someone entrusted to his care.

We've frequently seen demonstrations of the same moral vacuity in supporters when the teacher is a drama instructor.

Colonia, NEW JERSEY

Young enough to be his daughter. The former World Natural Body Building Federation professional body builder was "sorry for his lack in judgment."

Jan 29, 2008 - Craig Yarnall, 37, a physical education teacher at Colonia Middle School and a coach at Colonia High School, was arrested on charges he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. He faces charges of two second-degree charges of official misconduct and sexual assault.

Police found Yarnall in a parked car in a park with the 17-year-old girl. Investigators later determined Yarnall had a sexual relationship with the girl that began in April - when the girl was 16. He was suspended with pay.

Woodbridge middle-school gym teacher charged with sexual assault (Home News Tribune)

Authorities are urging anyone with information on Yarnall to contact Detectives Michael Dacrosta or Michael Ng of the Woodbridge Township Police Department at (732) 634-7700, or Investigator James Mullin of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit at (732) 745-3600.

ARRAIGNMENT Jan 31 - At his arraignment, Yarnall appeared without an attorney and said that he hadn't been been able to get a phone call since his arrest on Tuesday. He was due to use the phone at Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick yesterday before being taken to court, he said. DeVesa said he would arrange for access to a phone.

Yarnall is married. Bail was set for $150,000 with no 10% cash option. Next court date is Feb 8.

Two Colonia High School teachers are mentioned: Michael Petak and Karen Binder. (Links are to TT entries.)

GUILTY May 23 - Yarnall pleaded guilty Thursday morning to official misconduct for having sex with a teenage girl and "agreed to a three-year prison term" in exchange for his guilty plea.

He stands a chance, however, of being accepted into an intensive parole supervision program, making it possible he will only serve a few months in prison.Yarnall also must give up his teacher's license and can never hold a public job in New Jersey.

He is scheduled to be sentenced July 18.

TT - We call it Bargains when a teacher "agrees to give up" their license in plea negotiations because it demonstrates how difficult it is to revoke a license when the license itself becomes a bargaining tool that gives the educator an advantage that no other citizen is given. Revocation should be automatic and guaranteed for sex offenders. That it is not is shameful.

SENTENCED July 18 - Yarnall was sentenced to three years in prison.

Craig Yarnall, 38, of Woodbridge apologized and said the entire episode had been hardship for his wife and their infant twin sons.

In exchange for the guilty plea, the count of official misconduct was downgraded from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree misdemeanor and the count of sexual assault was dismissed.

By pleading guilty, Yarnall avoided trial, a maximum prison term of 10 years, and being placed on the Megan's Law list of sexual offenders.

UPPERCASE Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa agreed with the state that the aggravating factors of the inappropriate sexual relationship between a teacher, who is supposed to exhibit moral, ethical behavior, and a teenage student, outweighed the mitigating factors that Yarnall has a previously clean record and is at low risk to commit another offense.
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TT - Not mentioned in any article are the other Colonia High School teachers in the news.
Michael Petak, 31, sentenced to probation for witness tampering (no explanation). Entry
Karen Binder, 42, Entry arrested for official misconduct related to sexually explicit text messages sent to a pair of students. No resolution to her case online.

Gary, INDIANA

June 12, 2008 - Donald Pennington, 60, a teacher at Bailly Middle School, pleaded guilty to fondling two girls who were 12 and 13 years old at the time.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped more serious felony charges of child molesting and sexual misconduct with a minor. The maximum he will face when he is sentenced July 23 will be three years in prison.
-------------------- RESEARCH --------------------
TT - Not surprisingly for Gary, Indiana, the school rates a 1 at GreatSchools.net. for these kinds of test scores:

English Language Scores - 8th Grade
State = 69% at or above proficiency (proficiency = at or above grade level)
This School = 23%

Math Scores - 8th Grade
State = 74% at or above proficiency (proficiency = at or above grade level)
This School = 18%

Students are 97% black, 1% Hispanic and 1% other. 78% are eligible for a free lunch.

TT entry for another Gary, Indiana school with online resource link to schools in Indiana.
Link for Bailly Middle School. The 2007-08 Avg Teacher Salary: $58,332
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SENTENCED July 23 - Pennington was sentenced to 30 months in prison. [The story was from a news release from the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. However, there are no online press releases at their site.]

Post-Tribune: (July 24) At the sentencing, the district attorney presented a letter from the mother of one of the girls, which the judge read aloud in court. The woman said her daughter is receiving counseling to help her heal from the emotional scars caused by the crime. The family moved to another state because the child was teased.

UPPERCASE Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr. told Pennington, "For what you did you deserve to remain a convicted felon," Stefaniak said, barring any chance that Pennington's felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor when he gets out of prison.

Mt. Angel, OREGON

Six months in jail and 180 days of probation, registration as a sex offender.
He can have no contact with children, including his own.

May 21, 2008 - Colby Molan, 35, a Kennedy High School health teacher accused of sex abuse and official misconduct involving two female students was arraigned Tuesday.

Molan is accused of kissing and groping a 14-year-old student May 2 in the downstairs physical-education office at the school. Police also have accused him of having two sexual encounters with an 18-year-old student in school offices, according to jail documents.

Molan's attorney requested that Molan be allowed visitation with his children under conditions set by the Oregon Department of Human Services. Molan was arrested May 13 on charges of Official Misconduct in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.

TT - Molan "wore a polo shirt and jeans," according to the reporter. We wondered if he was barefoot.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING July 8 - Molan pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree sex abuse and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years of probation.

A second charge of third-degree sex abuse involving the 14-year-old and a charge of official misconduct were dropped as part of the plea bargain, Murphy said. The official-misconduct charge involved consensual sex with a student who was 18 at the time.

A third-degree sex abuse conviction means his teaching license automatically will be revoked. (He will have 21-days to appeal the revocation. )

Molan has been in custody for the last two weeks when he was found in contact with children unrelated to the case. It was a violation of his release agreement.

Judge Timothy Alexander told Molan he has a particularly harsh view of sex offenders and people who abuse positions of authority.T he judge told Molan he has a particularly harsh view of sex offenders and people who abuse positions of authority. Jail time was not part of the plea agreement.

Molan also will have to register as a sex offender. He must comply with his probation conditions, which include not having any contact with minors, as well as his own children, without Department of Human Services approval.

St. Helena, CALIFORNIA

The victims were ages 15 and 16 when the assaults happened, and Sandler was 33.

April 7, 2008 - Hershel Sandler, 45, a St. Helena High School coach, delayed entering a plea this afternoon. His arraignment has been rescheduled to Thursday afternoon.

Sandler is charged with committing oral copulation with a girl under age 18 between March 2, 1996 and March 1, 1999; two counts of oral copulation with a girl under age 16 between March 21, 1997 and March 20, 1998; and having sex with a girl under age 16 between March 21, 1997 and March 20, 1998.

The alleged offenses were reported to police on Jan. 28, 2008 and on Nov. 6, 2007. The complaint alleges Sandler committed similar sexual misconduct against other girls, including other teenage girls and other volleyball players, and that evidence includes witnesses and admissions by Sandler.

Sandler resigned in October 2007.
Full Name: Hershel Bernard Sandler

ARRESTED April 3 - Sandler was arrested at his home Wednesday night. The victims, now adults, were 15 and 16 when most of the incidents occurred. Sandler resigned just before the start of the wrestling season last fall, shortly after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light, according to local press accounts.

ARRAIGNMENT DELAYED April 8 - Sandler delayed entering his plea to three counts of oral copulation with a minor and one count of lewd acts against a child. A continuance of the arraignment and a bail hearing are scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The arraignment was delayed last Thursday while he found a lawyer.

Sandler previously requested that he be released on his own recognizance. He is currently being held at Napa County Jail on $250,000 bail. Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer denied Sandler’s request last Thursday to be released on his own recognizance, calling him “a danger to the public based on what I’ve read in the complaint.”
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Department of Correction inmate custody entry for Sandler.
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NOT GUILTY PLEA April 11 - Sandler pleaded not guilty. Judge Rodney Stone reduced Sandler's bail to $100,000 from $250,000. The complaint alleges Sandler committed similar sexual misconduct against other girls, including other teenage girls and other volleyball players, and that evidence includes witnesses and admissions by Sandler. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2.

SENTENCED July 23 - Sandler pleaded no contest last May to two counts of oral copulation. He was sentenced Wednesday to 270 days in Napa County Jail and five years of probation. The probation department recommended the court find that Herschel Sandler, 45, had served his time and allow him to leave the courtroom a free man.

Uppercase Judge Napa County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stone, however, disagreed, ordering Sandler to serve the nine months in the county jai - not prisonl. He must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.