Summary June 22, 2007Follow links for updated information.
UPDATES
A physical education teacher in a Catholic school was fired after being arrested for video voyerism when he was caught photographing girls at a water park. Police found Duane Champagne, 41, had 13,000 images of girls in bathing suits on his computer. TT - Link
Trenton Central High School teacher Sylvester L. Jones, 56, who was bailed out by his wife after being caught having sex with a 17-year-old girl, was bailed out again so he could attend his daughter's wedding. The mother and daughter both appeared before the judge at the hearing. Jones was in violation of a court order to stay away from the girl when he was caught in Pennyslvania. The sexual encounters began when she was 16. (New Jersey) TT - Link
In Illinois, James Love, 37, a substitute teacher has had a trial date set for June 22. He is accused of molesting four boys. You might remember him holding his Bible and blowing kisses to his supporters in the court room at his arraignment in May. TT - Link
INDICTED
In another case of Delayed Justice, a Tennessee teacher was indicted for sexual conduct with an underage student in 2003. What makes it unusual is that a well-known attorney alleges that school officials knew about Jeffrey W. Foster, 33, and did nothing. TT- Link
PLEADED GUILTY - Child Pornography
A Texas geometry teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. Leland Easterling, 60, had more than 375 computer images of child pornography and nine digital video files of children engaged in sexual conduct on his computer. TT - Link
PLEADED GUILTY - Cocaine, Intention to distribute
Jerome Fruit, a West Virginia middle school teacher and former football star, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges. No sentencing date was given. TT - Link
SENTENCED Child Molester
Carl Mason Jr., 21, a daycare teacher was sentenced after pleading guilty to seven charges of indecency with a child, two cases of sexual performance by a child and one case each of aggravated sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. For all that, he got 40 years on the aggravated sexual assault charge, 20 years each on the indecency cases and 10 years each on the possession and sexual performance charges. The sentences will run concurrently, which means he will be eligible for parole in 20 years. Not nearly long enough. TT - Link
DRUNK DRIVING TEACHERS
A middle school teacher in Florida is still teaching after three DUIs and a host of other arrests. ** TT - Link He's got a way to go beat the Massachusetts teacher with five DUIs who is also still teaching. ** The Ledger amended it to 2 DUIs in a story a day later.
The same day, a Pennsylvania teacher was ordered to attend a drug rehab that will erase his conviction for drunk driving, hitting a truck, and leaving the scene of an accident. The only problem is that he's a drivers' education teacher. TT -Link
If we had the same zero tolerance for teachers for drugs and alcohol that we do for students, the teachers wouldn't be back in any classroom.
OUTRAGE of the DAY
Another one of those Delayed Justice cases where a teacher was accused of abusing a boy in 2000. The mother informed the school, but the school did not inform the police. No investigation was done and there was a cozy agreement between school administrators and the union to send him to another school. Now, however, he's going to trial because a judge refused to dismiss the case against David Heil, 43, who will go to court October 15. TT - Link
Retirement Pensions
The state of West Virginia is beginning to look at public employee retirement pensions for convicted felons. They have ordered that state contributions be withheld for those public employees convicted of felonies.. The decisions are being appealed. But if adopted in every state, it might solve a lot of the unfunded pension liabilities. TT - Link
SCHOOL BOARD WATCH
In New Mexico, four people were indicted on charges of misappropriating money meant for a bilingual fund. The state took over financial operations for the West Las Vegas school board. Among those indicted are the school board superintendent, a school board member, an assistant to the bilingual director who married to a New Mexico representative - Rep. Richard Vigil. Richard Vigil's brother was state treasurer until he was convicted of extortion and sentenced to 37 months in jail. TT - Link
Not to be outdone, in Texas, 22 people were indicted in a contracting scandal. The indicted include three Pharr-San Juan- Alamo Independent School District trustees, the husband of the school district trustee , the superintendent of the school district and- two contractors for soliciting and receiving bribes. One of the contractors is president of the Donna Independent School Board. TT - Link
Newly-elected (in January) a school board member arrested in April for improper lane use causing an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under suspension. He paid a fine and it all went away. (Louisiana) TT - Link
