(06/25/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Kermit Thomas, 71, of Hagerstown, Indiana who reportedly is a retired teacher in the Nettle Creek School District has been arrested on allegations that he exposed himself to children playing baseball in a public park.

It is alleged that a parent saw a man performing a sex act on himself while he was watching the children play baseball in Springwood Park in Richmond, Indiana.

It is further alleged that when the parent approached Thomas, that he continued to perform the sex act and asked if the parent wanted to watch.

Police were called and allegedly Thomas admitted to police that he exposed himself, but not while he watching the children play baseball.

Following his arrest, Thomas was taken to the Wayne County Jail, from which he was subsequently released on $255 bond.

11/20/09 – Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Kermit Thomas has pleaded guilty to indecency charges.

Thomas, worked as an art teacher for 40 years at Hagerstown Elementary School, was sentenced to 100 days of home detention.

(07/08/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Ronald Alvin Thompson, 56, a science teacher and coach at Hartley School in Hartley, Texas has reportedly been arrested on allegations that he forced a child to touch him in a sexual manner.

Reportedly, Thompson was arrested on a charge of indecency with a child and was being held in the Hartley County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.

District Attorney David Green has refused to release information regarding the age and gender of the victim. In addition, Green has also refused to release information regarding the grade Thompson teaches or the sport he coaches.

A review of the Hartley Independent School District web site indicates that Thompson is a science teacher and coach and a member of the middle school and high school faculty.

Hartley School is a PK through 12th-grade school with slightly less than 200 pupils.

11/18/09 – Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Ronald Thompson, who pleaded guilty earlier this month on one count each of indecency with a child and having an improper relationship with a student has been sentenced.

Thompson has been sentenced to 8 years in prison on each count with the sentences to run concurrently.

In exchange for Thompson’s guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped three other felony counts.

Although Thompson pleaded guilty he exercised his right to have a jury, rather than the judge, decide his sentence.

The victims were girls, ages 13 and 17-years-old.

Thompson will be required to register as a sex offender when released from prison.

11/20/09 – Update on Sentencing

Robin Scott in a report titled, “Hartley teacher sentenced by jury” and published in The Dalhart Texan provides an excellent explanation on the unique plea agreement and sentencing of Ronald Alvin Thompson.

Scott’s report, quoting Sgt. Phillip Ditto with the Texas Rangers, points out that “Texas is the only state in the Union to have a judge or a jury set punishment. All other states have juries that determine guilt or innocence, but then a judge decides the punishment”.

Be sure and check out Scott’s report for the details on the plea agreement and a very informative glimpse into the criminal justice system in Texas.

(01/16/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Don Y. Kawamoto, 53, a boys tennis coach at Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Indiana has been arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor on allegations that he inappropriately touched a teenage girl during private tennis lessons.

It is alleged that Kawamoto touched the 15-year-old girl’s breast on two occasions and police say that he admitted doing so.

Reportedly the incidents with the girl happened during Christmas break and took place in an indoor practice facility on the Greenwood High School campus that Kawamoto had access to because of his coaching position.

According to indystar.com:

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the Johnson County Prosecutor’s office, the first incident occurred on Jan. 1 during a private lesson.

The girl said Kawamoto, while holding her right wrist during swing instruction, slid his left hand down the girl’s shirt and under her sports bra.

The next day, the girl said Kawamoto again slid his hand under her shirt and under her sports bra. The girl walked away and then began hitting tennis balls with Kawamoto when he asked her if she liked him touching her. The girl told him not to touch her.

Reportedly Kawamoto has been fired by the school and is free after posting $8,000 bond.

02/11/09 – Case Update

Greenwood police say more victims could come forward in their investigation of Don Kawamoto.

Already, a second and third alleged victim have come forward.

On Jan. 19, a 15-year-old Greenwood High School student told police that Kawamoto began touching her breasts during private lessons in the summer between her 7th and 8th grade year when she was a student at Greenwood Middle School.

On Jan. 21, a 16-year-old Indian Creek High School student told police that Kawamoto began touching her in the summer of 2008.

In both instances the girls are reported to have told investigators that the touching occurred so often they could not estimate the number of incidents.

Currently Kawamoto is facing three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and two counts of sexual battery.

11/20/09 – Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Don Kawamoto, who in August pleaded guilty to three felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor has been sentenced.

Kawamoto, who was facing up to eight years in prison, was instead sentenced to two years.

When released from prison, Kawamoto must register as a sex offender.