(11/21/08 - Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report

Vito Granieri, a Information Technology teacher/aide and occasional substitute teacher at St. Eleanor’s School, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania has reportedly been arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching a student.

Reportedly Granieri is charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, unlawful communication with a minor, unlawful restraint and harassment.

Granieri was arrested by Collegeville Police and arraigned today with bail set at ten-percent of $100,000 and conditioned upon Granieri having no contact with the alleged victim, the alleged victim’s family, the school or other teachers at the school.

Reportedly Granieri was placed on suspension November 13th when school officials became aware of the investigation.

A preliminary hearing for Vito Granieri is scheduled for December 2nd.

11/29/08 - Additional Charges Filed

On Wednesday, Vito Granieri was arraigned on new charges of indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor and harassment.

The new charges allege inappropriate touching incidents that occurred with two 9-year-old boys at the school between September and November of this year.

The two boys allegedly told authorities Granieri started touching their genitals in the second-grade when Granieri was with the boys in the school’s computer lab or in the lunchroom. The boys have also told investigators that Granieri placed candy in their pants pockets during the alleged inappropriate touching.

Reportedly Granieri is now free on $250,000 bond awaiting a preliminary hear on all charges.

(10/22/08 - Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Cynthia Horvath, 45, a former English teacher and cheer coach at Warner Christian Academy in South Daytona, Florida has been arrested on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student.

Horvath came to the attention of authorities when a faculty member at the school overheard rumors of a relationship between Horvath and the boy. It is also reported that students told a school employee of the alleged relationship.

Reportedly a school administrator contacted the student’s father and the boy admitted to having a sexual relationship with Horvath.

During the course of the investigation, South Daytona police worked with the police departments in Port Orange and Daytona Beach as investigators believed that Horvath and the boy had sexual relations repeatedly over four month period, between June and September, and in various locations in multiple jurisdictions.

Police claim that Horvath was having sex with her student in her car, in a Wal-Mart parking lot, under a bridge, in hotels in Daytona Beach and all over Volusia County.

When the headmaster of the school confronted Horvath about the allegations she reportedly resigned.

Following her arrest today on charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Horvath was initially held in the Volusia County Branch Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Both the Port Orange and Daytona Beach Police Departments have filed charges against Horvath with both sets of charges carrying $10,000 bond requirements.

According to the school web site Horvath is married with four children, at least some of whom attend or attended Warner Christian School, including a son who is reportedly a senior.

11/19/08 - Hormones Made Her Do It

The defense for Cynthia Horvath, facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted for sex with a minor, is offering up a defense of her hormones made her do it. Hormones along with unspecified mental conditions.

Papers filed in the case claim Hovath:

may not have known what she was doing was wrong because she was suffering from “severe hormone imbalances,” coupled with other mental conditions

11/26/08 - Continuance Granted

The attorney for Cynthia Horvath has sought and received a continuance for more time to prepare a hormone defense.

Horvath’s attorney said that she may not have been thinking clearly and was unable to tell the difference between right and wrong due to a hormonal imbalance which was possibly due in part to the onset of menopause and ovarian cysts.

The judge granted a 45 day continuance with the specification that the defense keep the state appraised of its findings.

References:

Horvath granted more time to prepare hormone defense (11/26/08)

Teacher charged with having sex with student blames hormones (11/19/08)

Teacher Blames Hormone Imbalance For Sex With Minor (11/19/08)

Attorney: Ex-teacher facing sex charge has ‘hormone imbalances’ (11/19/08)

Police: Teacher Had Sex With Teen Outside Wal-Mart, Under Bridge (10/22/08)

Volusia Co. Teacher Accused Of Sex With Student (10/22/008)

Central Florida Teacher Arrested On Charge Of Having Sex With Student (10/22/08)

Former Christian school teacher accused of having sex with student, 17, arrested (10/22/08)

Former Warner Christian Academy teacher charged with sex with minor (10/22/08)

(04/09/09 - Initial BBT Report)

William Tinsley IV, 28, a math and physical education teacher at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida has been arrested and charged with sexual battery on a 17-year-old female student.

Police say that Tinsley sexually assaulted the girl in his home last October.

It is alleged that Tinsley invited the girl to his home, asked her to smoke from a hookah pipe and drink alcohol - which the girl says she declined. It is further alleged that Tinsley and the girl kissed, went to the bedroom, undressed each other and that Tinsley fondled her genitals, but she declined oral sex.

Police say that the victim’s cell phone records and her description of the interior of Tinsley’s home were consistent with the details she gave investigators.

Following his arrest Tinsley was ordered held on $5,000 bond.

Reportedly Tinsley has been fired by the school.

04/11/08 - Tinsley Reported Fired For Similar Issues Previously

It is being reported that Tinsley was fired from a teaching position with the Duval County School District over allegations similar to those which have led to his recent arrest and firing.

The Duval County School District representative said after they fired Tinsley, they reported him to the Florida Department of Education which in turn did nothing regarding Tinsley and which now says “there had been no probable cause to take action against Tinsley’s license”.

09/25/08 - Defense Attorney Challenges Charge

The attorney for Willima Tinsley has filed a motion to have the charges dropped.

The defense contends that even if Tinsley was found to have had sexual contact with the girl, since the incident allegedly happened at the teacher’s home on a weekend, Tinsley had no custodial authority over the teenager.

The state’s attorney argue that the law does apply in this case since, as a teacher, Tinsley had authority over the child even if it was not at school.

No date available for when a decision on the defense motion will be made.

11/11/08 - Judge Rules Tinsley Can Be Prosecuted

Circuit Judge Mark Mahon has ruled that William Tinsley IV can be prosecuted even though the consensual activity occurred off campus after hours.

The judge ruled that Tinsley was in a custodial position over the teen because she was still a student at Lighthouse Christian School. The defense had argued that because the girl came to Tinsley’s residence on Friday night that there was no custodial status.

The judge has yet to set a trial date.

References:

Judge rules fired teacher can be prosecuted (11/11/08)

Ex-Teacher Challenges Sex Charge (09/25/08)

Teacher Accused Of Sexual Battery Fired For Similar Issues In Past (04/11/08)

Teacher arrested, fired after accused of sexual conduct with student (04/09/08)

Teacher Accused Of Sexual Battery Of Student (04/09/08)