(06/12/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Donald Pennington, 60, a former teacher at Bailly Middle School in Gary, Indiana has pleaded guilty to fondling two female students in a classroom.

The girls were 12 and 13-years-old at the time and the crimes occurred between December 2006 and March 2007.

As part of the plea deal prosecutors dropped felony charges of child molesting and sexual misconduct with a minor which are punishable by a two- to eight-year prison sentence.

Under the plea deal Pennington faces at most three years in prison.

The judge took the plea agreement under advisement and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 23.

07/24/08 - Sentencing

Donald Pennington has been sentenced to 30 months in prison on last month’s guilty plea to sexual misconduct with a minor, for fonding two female students.

The judge read aloud in court record a letter from the mother of one student who said her daughter is receiving counseling to help her heal from the emotional scars caused by the crime. The family moved to another state because the child was teased.

Pennington apologized for his crimes and his attorney asked that he receive probation.

References:

Former teacher given 30 months for sex crime (07/24/08)

Former teacher sentenced for fondling students (07/23/08)

Ex-teacher admits fondling girls (06/12/08)

Ex-Teacher Admits Fondling 2 Girls (06/12/08)

Ex-Gary teacher pleads guilty to fondling 2 girls (06/12/08)

(2/28/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Kristopher Sennett, 36, assistant principal at Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana has been arrested and faces two counts of child seduction on allegations of a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

School officials revealed to police that when questioned by school officials that Sennett said he was in love with the student and admitted having a relationship with her, but did not admit anything sexual.

Sennett came to the attention of school officials when the parents found e-mails and a Valentine’s Day card from Sennett and expressed to school administrators a fear that the two were preparing to runaway.

The school system released a series of e-mails allegedly between Sennett and the girl. In one of those e-mails, Sennett allegedly wrote:

“The age thing between us, I really don’t think about it a whole lot ‘cuz it just doesn’t seem to be a huge distraction. This relationship is so real that I don’t think of you being that much younger.”

The girl allegedly wrote back:

“You are so right. The age difference isn’t even anything anymore. I feel so grown up I can’t even believe I’m only 17.”

Following his arrest Sennett was being held Wednesday night at the Allen County Jail on bonds totaling $5,000.

Prior to working in the Fort Wayne school system, Sennett reportedly worked at the New Beginnings Alternative High School in Indianapolis for several years.

Sennett was placed on paid administrative leave by the school system last week.

3/25/08 - Sennett Fired

It took only 20 seconds for the Fort Wayne City Schools board to vote to fire Kristopher Sennett Monday night.

Sennett’s next court date is in April.

07/19/08 - Guilty Plea

Kristopher Sennett has pleaded pleaded guilty, without any plead deal, to two counts of child seduction.

Sennett will face a sentencing range between six months and six years in prison when he is sentenced in September.

He will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years.

References:

Ex-official admits sex with student (07/19/08)

Ex-assistant principal admits child seduction (07/18/08)

Assistant principal charged with child seduction fired (3/25/08)

Thursday Noon Update: Asst. Principal still in Jail (2/28/08)

Asst. Principal Charged (2/27/08)

Former Indy Teacher Arrested On Child Seduction Charges (2/27/08)

Asst. Principal charged: Child Seduction (2/27/08)

E-mails Released By School System (In PDF format)

(11/23/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Marc Andrew Lobdell, a former substitute teacher in Marion, Indiana is facing charges of child solicitation, battery, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in a case alleging five female students as victims.

It is alleged that Lobdell had inappropriate contact with 14- and 15-year-old students while substitute teaching at Justice Thurgood Marshall Middle School in 2006.

According to Marion Police Sergeant Del Garcia:

He had five different students that had reported inappropriate physical contact as well as inappropriate communication with Mr. Lobdell. Apparently it started with little things like putting his arm around them, and of course it started happening more often, and then it led to, of course, finally (inappropriate touching).

Reportedly the solicitation charge arose from Lobdell allegedly asking one of the victims to perform sexual favors in exchange for a ride home.

Reportedly Lobdell is free on $1,005 bond and is not being allowed to substitute teach in Marion Community Schools.

The charges against Lobdell follow a 19-month police investigation of allegations made by students in April 2006, shortly after Lobdell’s stint as a substitute teacher for Marion Community Schools.

05/11/08 - Trial Date Set

Marc Lobdell has been scheduled for trial on July 16th.

He has been granted court permission to work out of state while awaiting his trial.

07/12/08 - Trial Rescheduled

The trial of Marc Andrew Lobdell set for July 16th has been rescheduled to November 19th.

Reportedly the trial was postponed at the request of defense attorney Carolyn Rader of Indianapolis.

Reference:

Ex-substitute teacher’s trial rescheduled for November (07/12/08)

Ex-substitute teacher’s solicitation trial set for July 16 (05/11/08)

Substitute accused of fondling 5 students (11/25/07)

Former Marion substitute teacher arrested for child solicitation (11/23/07)

(05/14/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Sheila Vazquez, a teacher at The Renaissance School in Warren Township, Indiana has been arrested on allegations that she had sex with a 15-year-old male student.

The alleged victim told police that he had sex with Vazquez during a “lunch” outing during school hours on May 1st.

The boy allegedly told police that Vazquez arranged to take him to lunch during school because he was working hard in class.

It is alleged that the boy and Vazquez went to her home and had sex during the encounter and that she brought him back to school afterward.

It is further alleged that the boy also told police that he and Vazquez met in a classroom after school on several occasions to kiss and embrace.

Reportedly Vazquez has been suspended by the school and initially faces four counts of child molestation.

A teacher roster for the Renaissance School indicates that Vazquez teaches 8th grade.

Following her arrest Vazquez was held on $30,000 bond.

05/15/08 - Formal Charges

Sheila Vazquez was official charged today with four felony counts of sexual misconduct.

The alleged victim reportedly told police that on May 1st that when he and Vazquez went to her residence for sex during a lunch break that a female student accompanied them to act as a “decoy”. Reportedly the female student remained downstairs while the boy and Vazquez allegedly went upstairs and had sex.

05/16/08 - Court Appearance

Sheila Vazquez had a court appearance this morning on four felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. A not guilty plea was entered in her behalf.

The attorney for Shelia Vazquez says his client denies any involvement with the boy.

Her trial was set for July 16th.

A bond reduction hearing is set for May 20th.

References:

Teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges (05/16/08)

Charges Filed, Trial Date Set for Teacher Accused of Sex With Student

Teacher Charged With Sexual Misconduct With Minor (05/15/08)

Teacher jailed over sex allegations (05/14/08)

Teacher arrested for sex with 15-year-old student (05/14/08)

Teacher Suspended After Student Reports Sexual Encounter (05/14/08)

Teacher Roster for Renaissance School (10/01/07)

(05/08/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Chad Roby, 34, a former 6th-grade English and social studies teacher at River Trails Middle School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois has pleaded guilty and been sentenced on one count of possession of child pornography.

Roby who came to the attention of authorities from online chats with an undercover Indiana police detective posing as a 13-year-old boy. He was originally charged with two counts of attempted child molestation, two counts of child solicitation and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors. Roby was arrested in June 2006 when he went to a mall to meet what he thought was the “boy”.

Following his arrest, Roby’s computer was seized and a forensic examination of the computer revealed child pornography.

As a result of his guilty plea, Roby was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

References:

Former Mt. Prospect teacher gets 2 years for child porn (05/08/08)

Suburban teacher charged in internet sex sting (06/21/06)

Parents Express Shock At Coach’s Arrest (06/19/06)