Powell, WYOMING

Jan 31, 2008 - Lovell High School teacher Troy S. Pittman, 33, a history teacher and football coach at Powell High School in the 1990s, was bound over for trial after a judge found probable cause for two counts of indecent liberties with a child. A third count was dismissed.

Pittman is accused of providing alcohol and pornography to minor boys (ages 13 - 15) at a private residence and persuading them to engage in specific sexual activities while he watched, according to the affidavit. The incidents occurred more than a decade ago when Pittman was an assistant football coach at Powell High School, the affidavit states.Pittman most recently had been a history teacher and football coach at Lovell High School.

He no longer works at Lovell High School. The superintendent for Big Horn County School District 2 said state laws requiring confidentiality of personnel records prevented him from providing further information on the change in Pittman's employment status.

Jan 31 - Pittman was charged in Big Horn County on Oct. 22 on what is apparently a separate matter. [tt- It is unclear what the charges were and if they involved students at Lovell HIgh School.] Rumors of his arrest in Big Horn County prompted additional disclosures about incidents alleged to have taken place more than a decade ago Powell High School. [tt -The Big Horn County charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement in Park County.]
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LEGAL NOTE (from article): Under a state law passed last year, all information about sex crimes cases is kept confidential until the matter advances to District Court.
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ARRAIGNMENT & NOT GUILTY PLEA April 5, 2008 - Pittman pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child. No trial date has been set.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING September 7 - Pittman pleaded guilty in Park County to one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor. Pittman was sentenced to three to five years in prison -- with time suspended -- in favor of 5 years of supervised probation.

The boys in the case refused to cooperate with prosecutors which led to the plea agreement. District Court Judge John Brackley, however, was stern.

Brackley told Pittman that he would ordinarily be "treated more harshly" during sentencing, but he understood that the complications in prosecuting the case justified the plea agreement as recommended by prosecutors.

"It may seem pretty easy," Brackley told Pittman in describing the sentence."But believe me, there are people out there in the community that have taken a dim view of your conduct," he said, adding that Pittman should take his sentence seriously.

State law requires that Pittman register as a sex offender.

Wyoming ACT exams

Not ready for prime time.

August 18, 2008 - Billings Gazette: "Few grads ready for college"

Less than a quarter of Wyoming high-school students who took the ACT college entrance exam tested well enough to show they are ready for college with 79 percent possibly needing remedial college classes.

Statewide, 68 percent of the students who took the ACT are ready for college English. But just 28 percent are prepared for college science. And only 21 percent achieved a score indicating they're prepared for English, math, social science and science in college.

Results indicate that 79 percent of the students may need help such as taking remedial college classes, said Scott Gomer, ACT's media relations director.

Nationwide, only 22 percent of the 2008 high-school graduates who took the test are ready for college.

Cheyenne, WYOMING

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

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

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

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

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

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

Irena Mondello has been suspended with pay.

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

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

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

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

Cheyenne, WYOMING

Feb 12, 2008 - Mary C. Dunning, 47, a teacher's assistant at Baggs Elementary, is facing federal drug charges from the latest round of arrests related to a cocaine ring.

She is charged with two misdemeanor counts of attempting to possess cocaine.

Dunning is the second Laramie County School District 1 employees among the 13 Cheyenne-area residents arrested last week on federal warrants. A sixth-grade teacher, Irena F. Mondello, 41, is charged with two counts each of lying to federal investigators and attempting to possess cocaine. [TT entry for Mondello]

Both have been suspended with pay. The drug dealer was Steven A. Gibson.

[Scroll to the bottom of the story for a list of those arrested.]

March 26 - Mondello pleaded guilty to one count of lying to federal investigators. In the story, it said that Dunning is scheduled to change her plea April 21. TT - entry for Mondello.

GUILTY PLEA April 22 - Dunning pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of attempting to possess cocaine. Her attorney said the plea agreement with federal prosecutors recommends she be sentenced to one year of supervised probation. Barrett said Dunning has enrolled herself in a drug treatment program.

SENTENCED (News story date: June 19) Dunning was sentenced to six to twelve months probation for a misdemeanor count of attempting to possess cocaine. Probation conditions state Dunning must take part in drug treatment and seek full-time employment and shall not use or possess alcohol or illegally possess a controlled substance. Dunning had her bond revoked for testing.

Mondello also had her bond revoked for drunk driving at the news story. Entry for Mondello)

Pinedale, WYOMING

Sept 12, 2007 - Shawn Jeter, 34, a vocational agriculture teacher at Pinedale High School, faces charges in two counties for having sexual relations with a student.

Authorities say Jeter initially denied the allegations, but in March, admitted to investigators that he had sex with the girl. He also acknowledged giving the girl a Valentine's Day card and money in January, court documents show.

He faces faces four counts of second-degree sexual assault and six counts of third-degree sexual assault in Sublette County. In Natrona County, he faces third-degree sexual assault and indecent liberties with a child.

PLEA HEARING SCHEDULED Mar 2, 2008 - A trial was scheduled for Monday, however, a change of plea hearing will be set. At such hearings, defendants often enter into plea agreements with prosecutors.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING April 23, 2008 - Jeter pleaded guilty Tuesday in Natrona County District Court to third-degree sexual assault and indecent liberties with a minor. He was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. Jeter was also been convicted of sexual assault in Sublette and Converse counties in cases involving the same student. He was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison for those cases. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Lingle, WYOMING

Sex with students isn't a game. It's a betrayal.




Mar 17 - Norman Patterson, 46, a teacher and coach at Fort Laramie Middle School and Lingle-Fort Laramie High School, has had his trial rescheduled to May 7 when jury selection will begin.

Patterson faces 12 felony counts, six counts of second-degree sexual assault and and six counts of immoral and indecent behavior with a minor (16-year-old-girl.) The judge had scheduling conflicts. The previous judge recused himself as he was acquainted with both parties involved.

Patterson is charged with allegedly having sexual contact on numerous occasions with a female team member beginning in the year 2002, while he was her coach. He pleaded not guilty in his arraignment on October 17, 2006.
Full Name: Norman "Buddy" Patterson

GUILTY PLEA: May 26 - Patterson pleaded guilty to two felony charges that he had a sexual relationship with a student. His trial was set to start in two weeks. Patterson pleaded guilty to two charges of immoral and indecent liberties with a minor. The other 10 charges were dismissed.

The plea agreement recommended to the judge that Patterson receive a three- to seven-year sentence in the Wyoming State Penitentiary on one charge and a four- to seven-year suspended sentence on the other. The judge is not obligated to follow the recommendation.

The judge advised Patterson that because it was a sexual offense, he would be required to sign in as a sex offender wherever he lived after his incarceration.

Patterson is married and has four children ages 14 to 21.

Sentencing will be in six to eight weeks. Meanwhile, the judge denied bail and ordered Patterson to remain in detention

SENTENCED: August 24 - Patterson was sentenced to three to seven years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student in 2002 and 2003. He also received a suspended sentence of four to seven years on the other. He will be placed on 10 years of probation when he is released from prison, and he will be registered as a sex offender.

Patterson apologized to the victim and her family. He then apologized to his wife and four daughters who were sitting behind him in the courtroom, saying that he has robbed himself of years of being with his family.

The initial sexual contact took place in 2002 at Patterson's home, [Prosecuting attorney Patrick] Korell said.

Afterward, the victim told a counselor that something had happened, and the counselor warned the family. The parents confronted Patterson, and he told them nothing had happened and nothing would ever happen.

“He said, ‘Why would you make this up and lie about something like that?'”

He was 42-years-old at the time. She was 16.