Summary July 3, 2007Follow links for updated information.
SENTENCED
Four months - and alternate sentencing - will make sure that Kelly Spaich, 28, won't be seeing any jail time. The Roseville, California teacher pleaded no contest to a six-month sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy. She received 2002-03 Association of California School Administrators "Teachers who Make a Difference Award." YEAH.
Had she been a man, she'd do the time. The really insane aspect of the sentencing is that the judge inflicted her on the community to do 400 hours of community service. What community in their right minds WANTS the services of an admitted sexual predator?
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SENTENCED
David Watt, an engineering professor at the University of New Hampshire, was sentenced to one year in jail and five years' probation for soliciting sex from what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. (New Hampsire)
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SENTENCED (again)
After pleading guilty in 2006 to sex crimes with a 12-year-old girl, Acea Pickens, was sentenced to 16 years. He appealed and got a jury trial where jurors weren't particularly swayed by his defense that he made a mistake and hoped they'd see past it. He was convicted and a judge sentenced him to 24 years. (Oklahoma)
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PLEADED No Contest
Tiffany Yglesias, 31, pleaded no contest to one count of theft from an elderly or disabled adult who happened to be her mother-in-law. Yglesias helped author a a 2006 guide on ways for parent-teacher organizations to avoid theft. She had some knowledge of how to steal money. In 2004, she pleaded no contest to one count of grand theft and two counts of theft. (Ohio)
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Retrial
Gregory Hernandez, sentenced in 2005 to two years and eight months in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender, will get a new trial on charges of lewd acts with a 14-year-old female student. (California)
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INDICTED - Lewd acts on two students
John Asher, 37, was extradicted from North Carolina to face charges that he committed forcible lewd acts on two students when he was principal in 2000 - 2003 of Charisma Academy School. (California)
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TRIAL DELAYED
The trial of Nicole Belonga, 26, on related to the death of her 22-month-old child. The delay is while prosecutors ask for a new indictment. The child had minor facial injuries in November 2005. The 2006 injuries were fatal. Belonga, apparently, had anger problems in the classroom as well.
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What's with those headlines?
While most newspapers are responsible, a few still refer to teacher-student sex as a "romance" or "an affair." It's stupid. It's irresponsible and it's, thankfully, limited to large chain newspapers who ought to be able to afford better editors. Or maybe that's what big money buys - the Harlequin Romance wannabes.
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The Grade Integrity Act of 2007
In Georgia, a new law goes into effect that makes it an ethics violation for a principal to coerce or intimidate a teacher into changing a grade. The law is a result of a well-known case in Georgia. A principal, central office administrator, superintendent, or local school administrator can still change grades, but they have to document it.
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