The Mansfield News Journal had the same reaction we did when Dustin Powers was finally sentenced to prison.
But the fact is there are crimes that deserve prison time, pure and simple. In this instance -- a school teacher taking advantage of his position of authority to start a sexual relationship with a junior high student -- prison time was a must.Read the whole thing.
It would have given Powers time to reflect on his crime.
It would have given counselors time to work with him in a closed environment in a sex offender treatment program. It would have been a shock to Powers' system to see and hear the prison doors swing shut and realize he had committed a horrible crime.
Most importantly, it would have protected the victim from exactly what happened -- becoming a victim again.
PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
In Arizona, Stephen Charles Hume, 60, has asked for 3-4 weeks to consider a plea agreement. He is accused of secretly videotaping students as they changed clothes for art projects last October. It was a Rant of the Day when he was being investigated for the incredible postings of some of his supporters.
TT - Link
Endangering the Welfare of a Child charges
When Fulton, NY special education teacher Gracia Thompson was arrested and charged with with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child for alleged abuse of two special needs students, her lawyer accused the two teacher's aides of "some kind of vendetta."
The newspaper had to modify the story when they found out the aides didn't turn the teacher in. The two aides were contacted by police after the call to a child abuse hotline that started the police investigation. The paper then added the full text of depositions and accusatory instruments filed with the court. They are available at the story. [If you're having trouble opening them, right click open them in a new window or new tab.]
The school district investigated in May and did not notify police.
TT - Link for Thompson
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
A 39-year-old Texas teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 7 years of supervised release. There is no probation for federal sentencing.
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A Florida elementary school principal was arrested again on child pornography charges. Arrested in December, the new child pornography charges are the result of computer forensics.
TT - Link
In Wisconsin, a retired teacher who admitted he had a sexual interest in teens his entire life, will be going to trial. His son turned him in when he found child pornography on his father's computer.
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