(11/06/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Edward Antonio “Tony” Hubbard, 33, a former physical education and driver’s education teacher at Lakewood High School in Sumter, South Carolina has reportedly been arrested on allegations of engaging in sexual activity with a fifteen year-old girl.

Reportedly, Hubbard is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor, disseminating obscene materials and contributing to delinquency of a minor.

It addition to allegedly engaging in sexual activity with the girl, it is further alleged that Hubbard permitted the girl to view pornographic materials and gave her alcohol.

According to school Superintendent Dr. J. Frank Baker, Hubbard resigned his position with the school system on Wednesday.

11/09/09 – Case Update

Edward Hubbard made an initial court appearance on Friday at which time the judge set a $100,000 surety bond for Hubbard’s release from jail.

Hubbard’s bond is conditioned upon is having no contact with the girl or her family and the judge required that Hubbard be fitted with an electronic monitoring device while on house arrest.

(10/20/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Michael S. Highman, 43, a physical education teacher and boys basketball coach at Weaver Middle School in Hilliard, Ohio has reportedly been arrested by the FBI on allegations of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Highman has been initially charged in federal court with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.

Highman came to the attention of FBI agents investigating known child pornography sites. The FBI agents allegedly identified Highman as a user of a site. Members of the FBI Columbus Cybercrimes Task Force searched his home on October 15 and allegedly found thousands of images and movies of prepubescent teenage boys engaged in sexual acts.

It is alleged that Highman was sharing nearly 200,000 images on a site investigated for child pornography in June 2009.

Reportedly, Highman is free on electronic monitoring pending grand jury consideration of the case.

10/26/09 – Highman Resigns

According to a spokesperson for the school system, Michael S. Highman submitted his letter of resignation and surrendered his teaching licenses on Octber 21st.

The only reason cited by Highman was his pending felony charges.

(3/10/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Kason M. O’Neil, 26, a physical education teacher and track coach at Hudson Falls High School in Hudson Falls, New York has been arrested on allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student in 2005 and 2006.

O’Niel has been charged with two counts of second-degree rape and police believe there were additional encounters between the two for which O’Neil has not yet been charged.

O’Neil came to the attention of authorities when the girl made the allegations to officials at her current school.

O’Neil who has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school system was being held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bail bond.

3/20/08 – Indictment

Kason O’Neil has been indicted by a Washington County grand jury on 21 charges that accuse him of having sex with an underage student 20 times between 2005 and 2007.

O’Neil is free on bail pending arraignment on March 28th.

3/28/08 – Arraignment

Kason O’Neil was arraigned today in Washington County Court. O’Neil entered a not guilty plea to a 21-count indictment accusing him of having sex with a then-14-year-old student in 2005 and 2006.

According to O’Neil’s attorney the indictment is riddled with errors and the charges “won’t stick”.

O’Neil’s attorney also indicated that he felt “ambushed” when the prosecutor asked that police be allowed to photograph O’Neil’s genitalia and legs.

O’Neil remains free on bond.

09/18/08 – A Split Verdict

After four days of deliberations, which at times appeared deadlocked, a Washington County jury has acquitted Kason O’Neil on all felony charges in a case in which he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl on the track team he coached in 2005 at Hudson Falls High School.

The jury did convict O’Neil on on two misdemeanor charges; endangering the welfare of the child and sex abuse.

Sentencing on the two misdemeanor counts is set for October 17th.

O’Neil faces a sentencing range from probation up to a year in jail for the counts on which he was found guilty.

O’Neil’s attorney praised the jury for finding his client not guilty on the most serious charges but indicated he will appeal the misdemeanor convictions.

09/24/08 – Details of Jury Deliberations

According to the Post-Star report, a link to which appears below, the jury was basically deadlocked at 11-1 in favor of conviction on all charges.

Owing to a single hold-out juror, an apparent compromise verdict was struck finding O’Neil not guilty on all felony charges and guilty on the two misdemeanor charges.

10/17/08 – Sentencing

Kason M. O’Neil has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and 3 years probation.

Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan stayed the sentence for 120 days and allowed O’Neil to remain free on bail while he appeals the conviction.

O’Neil has resigned from the school district.

10/22/09 – Supreme Court Appellate Division Overturns Conviction

Despite a jury’s verdict, the Supreme Court Appellate Division Thursday ruled there was not enough evidence to support the charges of misdemeanor sex abuse and endangering the welfare against Kason O’Neil and overturned the conviction.

The high held that trial testimony did not provide enough proof to support the charges and the justices questioned the motives of the victim. In rendering their decision, the justices indicated, “The victim’s testimony was laden with inconsistencies, contradicted other evidence and, at times, strained credulity”.

The entire appeals court ruling, in ‘PDF format’ is available at this link.

Webmaster’s note: Thanks to “wtf” whose comment brought to our attention the latest developments in this case.

References:

Sex charges against coach dropped (10/22/09)

Hudson Falls teacher gets 60-day jail term in sex case; resigns from district (10/17/08)

Juror in teacher sex trial details deliberations (09/24/08)

Teacher acquitted on most serious charges in sex case (09/18/08)

O’Neil acquitted of felony charges (09/18/08)

Coach denies sex with teen girl (3/28/08)

HF teacher/coach indicted on 21 charges (3/20/08)

Hudson Falls teacher, coach faces sex charges (3/10/08)

Hudson Falls coach accused of rape (3/10/08)