Sunday, July 24

OVERVIEW - written July 2005

It's been three years. I have not updated the news items -- with one exception -- when I got a very nice email from someone who wanted me to research a a story to see what happened. I do not know the resolution of these cases, and it is possible that some might have been found innocent of the crime of which they are accused. But so were many priests.

Anyone with access to LexisNexis, however, will have no problem finding the stories.

Wednesday, May 29

53 Springdale, PA - May 29, 2002

William Doyle Jr., 26, was arrested and charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and corruption of a minor for an "affair" with a 15-year-old student. He is the son of a former School Board member.

The girl met him when she was in the 6th grade. Doyle is the second Allegheny Valley teacher or administrator arrested by police this month.
54

UPDATED JULY 2008 to reflect the dropped charges against the school administrator.

Tuesday, May 28

52 Miami, FL - May 17, 2002

"Sex Offender to Undergo Examination"     May 17, 2002
Ricardo Jose Garcia, 37, is to undergo medical and psychological testing after requesting surgical castration as punishment in lieu of jail for having molested an 11-year-old boy. Garcia wa a popular social studies teacher at Miami Northwestern High School when he was arrested in April 2001.
Source: Washington Post link

51 Pebblebrook, GA - May 28, 2003

Pebblebrook, GA High school staff member enters guilty plea     May 28, 2002
Virgil Life "Chip" Spaur, 31, technical director of the high school's theater in 1996 and 1997 was arrested in June 2000. Released on bond, he left the state and failed to appear in court. He was later found in Montana. Returned to GA, he faces up to 80 years after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated child molestation and one count of statutory rape of a 14-year-old female student. While on the run, he sent letters to the DA and the girl's family indicating that there may be other students he molested.

50 Denver, CO - May 17, 2002

Denver, CO Ex-counselor accused of stalking teen    May 17, 2002
A teacher who was fired in March was arrested on suspicion of harassment, stalking and criminal mischief for being drunk outside a student's house and yelling that he loved the 16-year-old boy. Records show that the teacher has prior misdemeanor arrests for harassment, trespassing and disturbing the peace. He was hired in 1999 to work in the district's community education department.

49 Newport, RI - May 23, 2002

Newport, RI Gym teacher on trial May 23, 2002
On paid suspension since October 2000, elementary school teacher Carl Reid, 38, is on trial for molestation of three girls.

UPDATE 2005: Carl Reid was found not guilty of all charges. Sep 12, 2002 - Providence Journal. (see their archives.)

45 46 47 48 Dallas, TX - May 26, 2002

Schools lack specific sex policy, notes the Dallas Morning News May 26, 2002
Surveying 12 districts, the Dallas Morning News found the districts had policings regarding the suspension or firing of a teacher, but not policies on notification of parents.
Texas law requires school districts to notify parents when their children's teachers aren't state-certified in a subject they're teaching; state law does not require a district to notify parents if their child's teacher is accused of a sex crime.
Cases cited:
    48
  • Leonard D. Treadwell, 28, sentenced to a year in jail and 10 years probation for assaulting three girls.
    47
  • Johnny Ray Ellis, now 49, was arrested on Feb. 8, 2001, and charged with indecency with a 12-year-old male student.
    46
  • Martin Rodriquez, 33, sentenced in April to 30 years for two counts of aggravated assault on a 13-year-old girl.
    45
  • Mark Curry, a teacher in South Dallas, was arrested and charged with having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
In the cases of Treadwell and Ellis, parents were notified when the teacher was arrested. Parents were never notified at any time for Martin Rodriquez, a Dallas teacher. Union officials are uncertain whether parents should be notified or not. ""You have to find that line to protect kids and not get into a witch hunt mode against teachers."
The Dallas Morning News is a Belo newspaper. They also own the Riverside, CA Press-Telegram

44 Longview, TX - May 23, 2002

Longview, TX Teacher sentenced May 23, 2002
Mark David Ladish, 41, a Longview fifth-grade teacher, (noted in first sentence as a Catholic school) was sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two of his students, 10 years for indecency with a child, and 5 years for possession of child pornography. "The two girls that Ladish admitted to assaulting were in his fifth grade class and were about 10 or 11 at the time the offenses occurred."

Sunday, May 26

43 Marreno, LA - May 25, 2002

Marreno, LA teacher arrested (At least she isn't "former") - May 25, 2002
Kristie Hobbs, 26, a teacher at Marrero Christian Academy, was arrested Friday and accused of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The male student was age 16.

Abuse at schools holds aftermath

Abuse at schools holds aftermath
A thoughtful article by DARRELL R. SANTSCHI in the Press-Enterprise exams the emotional toll on students and parents "It's a total violation of trust," says Sarah Page, 22, of Raymond, N. H., who had an affair with a teacher while in the seventh grade. "It's a violation of the trust all of us citizens place in the educational system. But on a personal level, it's a violation of the trust a child puts in an adult." Denial by the abusers:
Adult teachers and other school employees who seek out children for sex become adept at denial, says Don Bross, a professor of pediatrics who specializes in family law at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"They deny that there is any injury," Bross says. "They deny that there is any victim. Not only do they see nothing wrong with it, but they do as much as they can to make the rest of us uncertain."
[My own view is that the same could be said of our media who choose not to focus on the issue. Yesterday, the Associated Press sent out a story that struck me as gleeful about 16 priests who had committed suicide. The fact was that it was over a 10 year period of time, but the implication was clear. Priests were suicidal because of their guilt.]

The final line of the Santschi story struck me.

What parents and the public need to do, Shoop says, is support good educators and punish the abusers. More important, he says, know the difference.

Saturday, May 25

UPDATE: Everett, WA -- again
May 10, 2002 The trial of Susan Lemery, a Marysville, CA, teacher accused of molesting two teenage boys in Everett, Washington is delayed.

These items are worth reading:
June 19, 2001 "Teachers arrest confuses students" According to the article, students are surprised at the wonderful teacher's arrest. Not too surprising considering the media support for the teacher.
Parents, as well as fellow teachers at Oliva Park, support her in overwhelming numbers, according to school staff.
And, amazingly
Last Friday the teachers sent a care package to the Lemereys that contained food, cards from adults and children and artwork from her second grade students.
The reporter talked to a fourth grader who reported that everyone she talked to "sees only good in Susan." (A fourth grader is what, nine years old? What is a reporter doing interviewing a nine-year old?) The principal, however, didn't mind talking about it to a whole class of second graders. The principal, Karen Skaare, reports calls to her office running 10-1 in the teacher's favor. She visited the class to talk to the students about the case, asking them how it feels when they get accused on the playground of doing something they perhaps didn't do. She might have a hard time explaining when Lemery either pleads guilty or is found guilty. After taking it public to second graders, the principal forbid students to talk about it on the playground and are referred to their parents if they have questions.

June 24, 2001 Susan Lemery was accused of violating the terms of her bail for contacting witnesses.
July 27, 2001 New state law makes sex between teachers, teens a crime. "The Office of Professional Practices closed 23 cases last year involving allegations of sexual misconduct, according to an agency report." Eleven were dismissed (in seven cases because the employee's certificate had expired; seven voluntarily surrendered their certificates; three employees had their certificates revoked; two cases ended in reprimands.
December 5 Lemery faces additional charges based on investigation.

Jul 22, 2002 - FROM GOOGLE CACHE

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER by M.I. Lyke. Lemery was sentenced to five years.On June 21, a jury convicted the 38-year-old Marysville woman on three counts of third-degree child rape, and two counts of third-degree child molestation.

Teacher convicted of rape and molestation: Jury finds Susan Lemery guilty on 5 of 6 counts involving teenage boys
The jurors deadlocked 11-1 on a molestation charge that involved a second 14-year-old boy.
Each of the five counts carries a state-mandated sentence of 60 months. The sentences will run concurrently.
As his wife was being led away from the courtroom yesterday, her chains clinking above the heeled pumps, Dan Lemery gave a brief statement.
The family still supports her, he said. "We're behind her 100 percent."
She served three years.
Fallout continues after judge gives sex offender probation - May 25, 2002
The prosecutor in the case against Pamela Diehl-Moore, 43, sent an appeal to Trenton seeking a reversal of the sentence on statutory grounds. Diehl-Moor was sentened to probation for conviction of sexual assault of a 13-year old student. "Sentencings in such cases can vary dramatically from case to case. Earlier this year, a Somerset County judge sentenced Sheryl VanDyke, a former school aide in Bernardsville, to five years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy."

42 Virginia Beach, VA - May 11, 2002

Virginia Beach, VA Youth Leader charged - May 11, 2002
The headline read Youth leader, but Ricky Reyes Castillo, 28, arrested and charged with molesting two boys, was a science teacher at Norfolk Collegiate Upper School. He was subsequently fired, but that story doesn't appear in the index of the Virginian-Pilot only in abstracts for sale at Northern Light.

Friday, May 24

One grown up at least

In an updated AP story about Pamela Diehl-Moore, 43, sentenced to 3 years probation for sex with a 13-year student in her seventh grade class, one state legislator was outraged at the flippant and stupid comments and lack of punishment handed out by the judge. Assemblywoman Rose Heck, a Republican who represents Bergen County, called the decision "shocking and unacceptable." The judge, Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Gaeta, had said at the sentencing, "I really don't see the harm that was done, and certainly society doesn't need to be worried." and "Maybe it was a way for him, once this happened, to satisfy his sexual needs," Gaeta said. "People mature at different rates."
Yes, well maybe Judge Gaeta doesn't have any children, and maybe, just maybe he couldn't care less about them. But as a mother, I am outraged and downright disgusted. And it it had been my child this 43 year old pedophile had preyed upon, you can bet I would not be satisfied. Assemblywoman Heck had it right when she said the judge should be removed from the bench.

42 Carnegie, PA - May 24, 2002

Carnegie, PA School custodian to stand trial --- May 24, 2002
Daniel Mulholland, 44, custodian at a Catholic school has been ordered to stand trial on charges of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. The victim, now 20, alleged that Mulholland performed sex acts on him, beginning when he was in seventh grade. Last week, Mulholland was held for court on charges stemming from allegations made by another boy, now 15 years old.

40 Willow Springs, MO - May 24, 2002

Willow Springs, MO High School English teacher indicted - May 24, 2002
Rebecca L. Gregory, 39, has been charged in Howell County with with second-degree statutory sodomy. She's charged in Texas County with second-degree statutory sodomy and second-degree statutory rape. The boy was 16. After interviewing several witnesses, we determined this has been going on for a couple of years with other students but who were 17 years of age or older," Dunn said. Gregory is charged under statutes which only apply to people younger than 17.

Union Township, OH - Ethics refresher

Union Township, OH Teachers get ethics refresher course    May 24, 2002
After a second teacher was charged with having sex with a student, school district and law enforcement will be talking to faculty of Amelia and Glen Este high schools.

Math teacher Gregory Payne was indicted on Wednesday of two counts of sexual battery which involved sex with a female student. Two weeks ago Jeffrey Sears was indicted on four counts of sexual battery with three female students. Authorities say Mr. Payne and Mr. Sears lived together at one time. “People send their kids to school not expecting something like this to happen,” said Don White, Clermont County prosecutor. White. “This especially violates that trust.”

Thursday, May 23

New Jersey Porn Ring nabs teacher and principal

New Jersey web porn ring raid in 200 homes --- May 9, 2002
A New Jersey web-based porn ring sting led to 200 raids. The suspects include a middle school teacher, a high school principal, a police officer, and a volunteer firefighter, but authorities declined to provide names or hometowns of the suspects, citing an ongoing investigation.

This and the next three stories are all from the same newspaper. Which makes you wonder how come they are oblivious of these stories from their own site and AP stories from around the country about teachers but when you search the site for "priest" and "sex", they have 81 stories.

37 - 38- 39

39 Livingston, NJ Former biology teacher arrested --- March 10, 2002
Paul Slifer, 34, recently fired from the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, is accused of molesting six girls, ages 15-16 years old. In some cases he told students he was a doctor and conducted examinations. Slifer was arrested Wednesday and charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, four counts of criminal sexual contact, and three counts of practicing medicine without a license.

38 Glen Rock, NJ Former teacher's aide pleads guilty April 3, 2002
Ira S. Jones, 24, a teacher's aide at All Saints Preschool & Day Care, accepted a plea bargain for molesting girls, ages 4 and 5. His lawyer claims he was mentally retarded.

37 Oradell, NJ Four more students allege abuse May 19, 2002
A retired teacher is accused of sexual abuse by former students . The men, graduates of the district between 1973 and 1987, came forward when they heard of a planned lawsuit against the retired teacher and coach and the school district.

36 East Feliciana, LA - May 21, 2002

>East Feliciana, LA Teacher arrested    May 21, 2002
Ernestine Spurlock, 48, was arrested on cruelty to juveniles, cruelty to the infirm, malfeasance in office and simple battery charges. This was after a February complaint where she reportedly forced four second grade boys to simulate sex acts in front of a classroom.

35 Everett, WA - May 23, 2002

Everett, WA Teacher arrested on sex misconduct charges --- May 23, 2002
A Ferndale High School teacher, Thomas Sipsey, 35, was arrested for investigation of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, a 16-year old female student. The AP story cited documents obtained by The Herald of Everett, WA but that paper had only a brief writeup about a "former" teacher. (He had resigned when confronted.) Is this "former" teacher supposed to reassure parents or what?

34 Victorville, CA - May 9, 2002

Victorville, CA Teacher faces trial May 9, 2002
They're always called "former" teachers when they were fired for misdeeds or still on administrative leave. Anyway, Jamie Renee Putman, 33, a "former" sixth grade teacher denied having pot parties with students and sex with a teenage student. She was caught when a security officer noticed a 13-year old boy passing over a bag of marijuana to the teacher. A 16-year-old boy told police he didn't remember having sex with her as he was too drunk, but after waking up naked the next morning in her bed, they did. And she is being charged with three counts of lewd acts with a child, six counts of furnishing marijuana to minors, 12 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of possessing marijuana on school grounds.

33 New Jersey

Judge shrugs off female teacher's sex liaisons with male student, 13; she avoids prison May 23, 2002
The Minneapolis Star-News had that headline for this story about a New Jersey judge who saw no harm in the sexual relationship between Pamela Diehl-Moore, 43, and a boy who had just completed her seventh grade class.
``I really don't see the harm that was done and certainly society doesn't need to be worried,'' Judge Bruce Gaeta said Wednesday. He ordered Diehl-Moore to continue counseling for severe depression.
And,
Gaeta said the boy did not appear to suffer any psychological damage. ``Maybe it was a way for him, once this happened, to satisfy his sexual needs. People mature at different ages,'' he said.
Well, now it's official. I am looking for New Jersey newspaper reaction on this. For sure, it's not going to show up on law.com This Hackensack newspaper - Bergen Record - wasn't offended. -"Teacher in tryst spared prison" Try looking up the definition of "tryst" if you want to get really mad.
Even the UK Guardian found the story remarkable but no doubt because they have advocated sex for 12- year-olds and think parents who are concerned about pedophilia are overreacting.

33 Orange, CA - May 2002

No longer calling them teachers May 23, 2002
The Press-Telegram (Riverside, CA) is no longer using "teacher" in their headlines. "Murrieta man suspected of sex with student" turns out to be Corey Weldon Witt, 28, a teacher at Lutheran High School in Orange, CA. The student was a 16-year-old girl. Whether she was in his class or not isn't known.