(1/07/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Joseph Samuel Ellis, 25, a former history and government teacher at Glenelg High School in Glenelg, Maryland accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with several students pleaded guilty today to one count of displaying obscene materials to a minor.

Ellis will face trial this week on charges of sex abuse of a minor, indecent exposure, telephone misuse and two counts of a fourth-degree sex offense.

The charge to which Ellis pleaded guilty today carries a maximum punishment of one year in prison, a $1,000 fine or both. Sentencing on the charge to which Ellis pleaded guilty will take place following his trial on the remaining charges.

Ellis admitted today that on December 17, 2006 he sent six sexually explicit photos to the e-mail account of a 17-year-old female student.

Police arrested Ellis in January 2007 upon allegations from students accusing him of various crimes including exposing himself to a student in a classroom, sending suggestive computer messages to another and persuading a third to meet him at a park with the promise of alcohol.

In April 2007 Ellis was fired by the Howard County Board of Education.

1/09/08 – Jury Says Guilty

After three hours of deliberations a Howard County jury found Joseph Ellis guilty of child sexual abuse, indecent exposure and telephone misuse.

Read the rest of this entry »

(05/08/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Aaron Scott Fusselman, 25, a government teacher and boys’ lacrosse coach at Sebastian River High School in Sebastian, Florida has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a 15-year-old female student.

Police say that the girl claims the teacher has grabbed her breasts, put his hand under the back of her shirt, rubbed the back of her legs, and whispered “would you let me” in her ear as he grabbed her buttocks.

Allegedly two other students have witnessed inappropriate behavior by Fusselman toward the alleged victim.

It is also alleged that Fusselman admitted to making lewd comments to girls, but he has denied touching them inappropriately.

Fusselman came to the attention of authorities when the alleged victim complained to a school resource officer last month.

Once the first alleged victim came forward additional girls came forward claiming that Fusselman also touched them improperly.

One girl said that Fusselman offered her an A if she’d lift up her dress for him.

Investigators believe that there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to call the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office at (772) 569-6700.

01/21/09 – Not Contest Plea To Lesser Charge

On January 7, 2009 Aaron Fusselman entered into a plea deal with prosecutors which involved Fusselman reportedly pleading no contest to a misdemeanor simple battery charge.

As a result of the plea deal the judge reportedly placed Fusselman on probation for one year for the battery charge, according to court officials.

Reportedly Fusselman was also required to surrender his teaching license as part of the plea deal.

Fusselman’s attorney was quoted in news reports as saying, “He may have said things that were inappropriate to the complainant, but he denies he did anything with any sexual intention. He was a popular teacher, and a lot of people were sorry to see his career end.”

References:

Former Sebastian River High teacher takes battery plea deal (01/09/09)

Plea deal keeps former Sebastian River High teacher from facing molestation charges (01/08/09)

Sebastian River High teacher charged with lewd act (05/08/08)

Popular teacher arrested for lewd acts (05/08/08)

Teacher charged with molesting student (05/07/08)

(05/15/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Allen James Cole, 34, a government teacher at Travis High School in Austin, Texas has been arrested on allegations that he had sex with an 18-year-old female student more than 20 times in five days.

Cole who was charged with having an improper relationship with a student on Wednesday was released on $10,000 bond on Thursday.

Reportedly Cole came to the attention of authorities by way of a tip from another teacher.

The alleged victim told police that she went to Cole’s South Austin apartment several times during the first week of May and had sex with him.

Reportedly Cole resigned from the school on Tuesday.

12/17/08 – Guilty Plea

Allen Cole has reportedly pleaded guilty in Travis County District Court to having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old Travis High student in May.

Assistant District Attorney Allison Benesch indicated that Cole was sentenced to four years of probation and surrendered his Texas teaching license.

Cole also must perform 200 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.

Reportedly Cole will NOT be required to register as a sex offender.

References:

Former teacher pleads guilty to sex with student (12/18/08)

Travis High School educator accused of having sex with student (05/16/08)

Travis High teacher arrested for improper relationship (05/15/08)

Travis H.S. teacher arrested on sex charges (05/15/08)

(6/05/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Nathaniel B. Thomas, 26, an at-large member of the Prince George’s County, MD school board was indicted Tuesday on a third-degree sex offense charge for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student he once taught..

Thomas allegedly had sex at least three times at his home with the student between August 2004 and October 2005, at a time when the student was 15 years old.

The alleged victim is a 15-year-old boy who attended Forestville Military Academy where Thomas was a U.S. history and government teacher at the time.

It has also been alleged that Thomas also allowed the student to watch pornographic videos.

The case came to the attention of authorities during a separate investigation ordered by the school board into whether Thomas took an 18-year-old Forestville Military Academy senior to a conference in San Francisco in April of this year.

Thomas surrendered to police on May 8th, four days after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on the third-degree sex offense. Bail for Thomas was set at $85,000.

In a unanimous vote in May, the school board recommended that the Maryland Board of Education expel Thomas, who took a seat on the board seven months ago. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) would have to approve that decision.

7/07/07 – Nathaniel Thomas Resigns

Yesterday Nathaniel B. Thomas resigned from the Prince George’s school board.

11/26/07 – Charges Dropped To Be Refiled

Charges against former Prince George’s County school board member Nathaniel B. Thomas was dismissed Monday, the day his trial was expected to start, because prosecutors filed an incorrect address for Thomas in their charging documents.

The state’s attorney spokesman said the charges would be refiled within two weeks.

Thomas attorney said, “My client is very gratified that this ordeal is over, and we certainly hope [prosecutors] would elect to make the appropriate decision and not re-institute any charges.”

4/02/08 – Trial Comes To a Screeching Halt

The trial of Nathaniel Thomas started and ended today when Thomas’ attorney filed a motion for dismissal, saying he did not have time to prepare because he received state notes from detectives on the eve of the trial. Prosecutors admitted to only handing over the detectives’ notes Tuesday night, but say the lead detective in the case had just recovered the notes and had given them to the state. Prosecutors also said the information in the notes had been given to the defense in some other form.

Ultimately the judge said he had to exclude any witnesses or names included in the notes handed over late to the defense. This included the majority of key witnesses for the prosecution, including the alleged victim. The state has appealed the judge’s ruling.

References:

Teacher’s Sex Abuse Trial Ends Before it Begins (4/02/08)

Charge against former school board member dismissed (11/26/07)

Thomas resigns after indictment; hearing cancelled

Thomas indicted on sex offense charge

P.G. School Board Member Indicted On Sex Offense

Pr. George’s School Board Member Charged with Sex Offense

Background:

School Board Member Arrested