Archive for March, 2009
(03/30/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Peter Henry Hatch, a retired first-grade teacher who substitutes for kindergarten through third-grade classes in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in California has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.
Reportedly Hatch came to the attention of authorities when a film processor in Watsonville, California called police after Hatch allegedly dropped off a roll of film to be developed. A roll of film which reportedly contained images of bikini-clad young girls at the beach.
The sheriff’s office reportedly began an investigation and detectives searched Hatch’s Freedom home earlier this month and allegedly found “boxes and boxes” of “child erotica images”, described as involving “nude or scantily-clad underage girls in sexually suggestive positions”. Investigators say that it appears most of the illegal images were downloaded from the Internet.
Regarding the pictures allegedly taken by Hatch himself from afar and of young girls at the beach, it is alleged that Hatch told investigators “he possesses them because he finds young children to be sexually attractive”. It is further alleged that Hatch also said he was taking photos of children he saw because he fantasized sexually about them.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson pointed out that taking photos in a public place is not against the law but that possessing child pornography is.
Following his arrest, Hatch was subsequently released on bond.
(03/30/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Bob Epley, 56, a Nashville, Tennessee Metro Schools’ Bus Driver Supervisor was arrested over the weekend following his indictment by the Davidson County Grand Jury on three counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of aggravated sexual battery.
The indictment alleges that on separate occasions since October, 2008 that Epley hired at least three children whose ages are 9, 14 and 15, to place him in a stranglehold with their legs in order to create an auto-erotic sensation.
It is further alleged that Epley video taped the encounters with the children at the Ashland Hills apartment complex in Donelson.
Reportedly, school officials have indicated that Epley verbally resigned Monday morning.
Epley remained in jail Monday, in lieu of $75,000 bond.
Police have indicated that they believe there may be other victims and ask that anyone with knowledge of Epley’s dealings with children is urged to contact the police department’s Sex Crimes Unit at 862-7540.
The other two cases are those of Donelson Middle School teacher Ronald Boykin and Ronald B. Anderson, executive principal of Kennedy Middle in Antioch, Tennessee.
(03/28/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
John Harvey Watson, 61, a retired Marine Colonel and Reserve Officers Training Corps program teacher at Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida has been arrested in a child-pornography investigation.
Watson is reportedly charged with five counts of possession of child pornography.
Reportedly, Watson came to the attention of authorities when officers from the Florida Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit allegedly traced images of child porn back to his computer.
Investigators seized a personal desktop computer, an external hard drive, a thumbdrive and several CD-ROM discs from Watson’s home.
A press release from the Florida Attorney General’s Office indicated that investigators discovered the alleged child pornography on Watson’s computer equipment and that most of the girls depicted in the images were of middle school and high school age.
Reportedly, Watson made an initial court appearance on Saturday morning and was being held in the Duval County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
Allegedly Watson admitted to detectives that he downloaded and viewed pornographic movies on his computer and reportedly told investigators, “He knew it was illegal, and did it anyway.”
The school system reportedly has placed Watson in a non-teaching position with the school system pending the outcome of the case.
(03/28/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Greg Brewer, 32, a former seventh-grade math teacher and coach at Central High School, a PK-12 school, in Florence, Alabama who was accused of hugging, kissing and inappropriately text-messaging a 12-year-old female student has seen his charges deferred in a deal with prosecutors.
Reportedly under the terms of the settlement reached in Lauderdale County Juvenile Court, Brewer agreed to resign his position with the school system and to surrender his Alabama teaching certificate with both actions effective June 2. Brewer, under the terms of the agreement, is also to have no contact with the girl.
Kyle Brown, chief assistant district attorney in Colbert County, who prosecuted the case owing to a conflict of interest in the Lauderdal County DA’s Office, has been reported as saying that during the court hearing Brewer admitted to each of the three allegations – texting inappropriate messages with sexual overtones, and hugging and kissing the girl.
The Lauderdale County school board has already accepted Brewer’s resignation, effective June 2nd.
Brewer had been on paid leave since late May after the accusations involving the student surfaced.
(03/27/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
James Rodney Lee, 27, a teacher at Rome High School in Rome, Georgia has been arrested and charged on allegations of the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old male student.
Lee is reportedly charged with aggravated sodomy, second degree cruelty to children, sexual assault against a person in custody, and sexual battery.
It is alleged that the sexual assault occurred on March 20 and reportedly involved inappropriate touching, although news media reports are not clear on the exact nature of the alleged offenses.
Lee, accompanied by an attorney, turned himself in to the Floyd County Jail on Friday afternoon.
Reportedly school officials have indicated that Lee will not be allowed back in the classroom when school resumes following Spring break.
(03/26/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Joshua Thomas, 36, a third-grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School in Hempstead, New York has reportedly been charged with lewdness on allegations that he was seen fondling himself near the school moments before class.
It is alleged that Thomas was seen naked and fondling himself in his car Thursday morning. Reportedly the car was parked across the street from Franklin Elementary School at the time.
Police were called and they arrested Thomas at the school shortly after classes began for the day.
A spokesperson for the school system has reportedly stated that Thomas, who has taught at the school for six years, will be suspended and will remain off the school campus.
03/27/09 – Arraignment
Joshua Thomas appeared in court for arraignment today and entered a plea of not guilty to four counts of public lewdness and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
Following his arraignment, Thomas was held on $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash bail.
The assistant DA handling the case for the prosecution said the case against Thomas is strong, with witnesses, videotaped evidence and an admission by the suspect.