Archive for July, 2009
(07/31/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Mark W. Shaddock, 44, a behavioral specialist at Alamo School in Magdalena, New Mexico has reportedly been arrested on allegations of molesting a 15-year-old girl.
Shaddock reportedly faces three counts of criminal sexual penetration, two counts of criminal sexual contact, four counts of child abuse, three counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated stalking.
The crimes are alleged to have taken place over a period of months during spring of this year.
It is alleged that Shaddock wrote love letters to the 15-year-old and exchanged gifts with her. It is further alleged that he also told investigators he thought he was falling in love with the teen.
Shaddock came to the attention of authorities after the girl’s father became concerned when he allegedly saw Shaddock leaving their home.
Reportedly, Shaddock has resigned from the school.
(07/30/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Robert Sewell Barth, 57, a teacher at Cheney Elementary School in Orlando, Florida has reportedly been arrested on federal child pornography charges.
Robert Barth is reportedly charged with receiving child pornography.
Barth came to the attention of the FBI after he allegedly purchased child pornography from an Internet website in 2005 and 2008.
In December, 2008 federal investigators went to Barth’s residence and searched his computer. Investigators allegedly found more than 1,000 images and at least 25 videos containing child pornography. It is alleged that some of the images depicting toddlers and 6 and 7-year-old children.
It is further alleged that Barth admitted to to investigators that he purchased child pornography and said he was addicted to porn.
Investigators said that evidence showed Barth viewed child pornography right before he would go to class to teach.
Reportedly Barth and his wife have had 19 foster children since 2002 but Department of Children and Families do not believe any of the children were abused. The child agency was informed of the federal investigation into Barth in February and is reportedly insuring that no more children are placed in the Barth home.
The school system placed Barth of paid leave in December, 2008 when school officials learned of the FBI investigation. Reportedly, Barth has taught at the school since 2004.
Following a detention hearing Barth was released to home confinement and ordered to surrender his passport.
(10/15/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Dale Clinton Swank, 41, a former art teacher at Independence Charter Middle School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has been arrested and charged with three counts of lewd acts with a child under 16 and one count of sexual battery.
Swank, who reportedly taught at the school for 9 years, came to the attention of authorities in March of this year when the first alleged victim came forward.
Once the investigation was underway, three additional alleged victims came forward, one of whom was a colleague of Swank.
The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between September 2002 and May 2004.
All of the alleged incidents are said to have taken place in either Swank’s art room or supply closet.
Police urge any other possible victims to contact authorities.
07/30/09 – Guilty Plea To Lesser Charges
Court records indicate that on Tuesday Dale Swank pleaded guilty to four counts of assault with intent to commit a felony.
Swank, who was originally charged with three counts of lewd acts with a child under 16 and one count of sexual battery, received a five year suspended sentence in addition to 28 days in the county jail.
References:
Former Teacher Accused of Sex Assault (10/15/08)
Metro Teacher Accused Of Fondling Students (10/14/08)
(12/02/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Aaron Westbrook, 25, a social science teacher, surf team coach and assistant girls volleyball coach at Capistrano Valley High School in in Mission Viejo, California has been taken into custody on suspicion of having sex with one of his female students.
School officials reportedly received an e-mail containing allegations of the alleged illicit activity from a concerned parent just before Thanksgiving and began an investigation on Monday. Administrators interviewed students about the allegations and thereafter concluded that a crime may have been committed. School officials then contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Reportedly Westbrook was taken into custody on the campus Monday and was subsequently released on bond.
A school district spokesperson indicated that Westbrook will not be attending any of his classes and that the Capistrano Unified School District school board will review in their next meeting whether to place him on compulsory leave during the criminal investigation, which is without pay.
01/22/09 – Case Update
In a press release, the Orange County District Attorney’s office has revealed that it has charged Aaron Westbrook with three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, two felony counts of oral copulation of a minor, two felony counts of administering a controlled substance to enable a felony, three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
According to the press release, Westbrooks’s arraignment will take pace at 9:00 a.m. at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach on February 11th.
The DA’s office says that between June 1, 2008, and Nov. 1, 2008, Westbrook is accused of having an unlawful sexual relationship with two separate female victims on separate occasions, both 17 years old, whom he met while teaching at Capistrano Valley High School.
Westbrook is accused of giving alcohol to both victims and illegally engaging in oral copulation and intercourse at his home and at the home of one of the victims.
The DA’s office says that the school principal contacted the police after receiving a letter from a concerned parent.
02/11/09 – Arraignment
Aaron Westbrook appeared in court for arraignment this morning and entered not guilty pleas to five felony sex counts involving a minor, two felony counts of administering a controlled substance to enable a felony, three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Westbrook who remains free on on $50,000 bail faces a maximum of seven years in state prison if convicted.
07/29/09 – Guilty Plea
Today, Aaron Westbrook pleaded guilty to three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, two felony counts of oral copulation of a minor, two felony counts of administering a controlled substance to enable a felony, three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
In spite of the multiple felony counts to which Westbrook pleaded guilty, Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones sentenced him to only 240 days in county jail and three years probation.
Reportedly, prosecutors objected to the lack of prison time in Westbrook’s sentence.
(12/29/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Hope Ashley Jacoby, 23, athletic trainer at Tustin High School in Tustin, California has been arrested on suspicion of engaging in unlawful sex acts with a male student.
Jacoby was arrested last week on suspicion of oral copulation of a minor and unlawful sex with a minor.
She reportedly came to the attention of authorities who were informed of the unlawful acts by a student who allegedly saw a text message photograph on the cell phone of the alleged victim.
Police say that the victim is between 14 and 17-years old and police have also indicated that there might be other victims.
Investigators believe Jacoby had sex with the male athlete on several occasions, including at her San Juan Capistrano home and her car while parked near an elementary school.
Following her arrest, Jacoby was reportedly jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail but has since been released on bail.
Reportedly Jacoby worked for a company hired by the school to train its athletes in various sports and in late November, Jacoby submitted a letter of resignation to the district, stating that Friday, December 19th would be her last day because she intended to further her education. Jacoby was arrested on what was reportedly her final day at the school.
Police were encouraging anyone with information on Jacoby or any other possible victims to contact the sheriff’s department at (714) 628-7170.
07/29/09 – Sentencing
Hope Jacoby, who earlier this month pleaded guilty to six counts involving sexual contact with a minor, has been sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.
The judge reduced the counts to which Jacoby pleaded guilty to misdemeanors over prosecutor’s objections.
The judge noted that Jacoby is a college graduate on her way to a productive life and is not likely to re-offend and that the victim was a male student who was 16 and 17 during the course of conduct and was a willing participant who had engaged in some deception to maintain the relationship.
Webmaster’s note: Thanks to “Jim” whose comment brought to our attention the interesting conclusion of this case.
(5/31/07 – Initial BBT Report)
Tom Porras, 49, of Scottsdale, AZ, a substitute teacher and assistant track coach at Saguaro High School today entered a not guilty plea on a felony count of sexual abuse, one count of public sexual indecency and one count of assault in a case in which Porras is accused of the sexual assault of a 17-year-old female student.
Porras came to attention of authorities in April when a school resource officer was notified of the alleged incident by school staff. He was arrested at the school. It is alleged that while being interviewed by police, Porras made admissions to the sexual abuse.
The teenager told police Porras, an assistant track and football coach and former professional football player, inappropriately touched her while she was at his house on Wednesday. She told officers she was invited to the home for an “athletic massage,” and during the time she was there, he had unwanted sexual contact with her.
While being interviewed by police, Porras made admissions to the sexual abuse incident, a Class 5 felony if convicted, and public sexual indecency, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
In the wake of the April allegations, Porras was placed on unpaid administrative leave.