Archive for the ‘Language Arts’ Category
(02/10/10 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Rafer Lamar Grier, a Spanish teacher at Stephenson Middle School in Stone Mountain, Georgia has reportedly been arrested on allegations of child molestation and statutory rape.
Reportedly, Grier is charged with four counts of aggravated child molestation and one count of statutory rape. It is unknown whether the alleged victim is or is not a student at the school.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2008 and Grier was arrested last week.
DeKalb County Schools didn’t know they had a teacher arrested on charges of aggravated child molestation and statutory rape until CBS Atlanta News told them.
According to the same report:
In a statement to CBS Atlanta News from the DeKalb County School District, they said:
“The DeKalb County School District learned of the arrest of Mr. Grier after receiving the media inquiry from Channel 46 and subsequently researching the DeKalb Jail web site.”
Reportedly, Grier’s next court appearance is set for February 16th.
DeKalb County Jail records indicate that bond for Grier has not been set as yet.
(08/26/10 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Carlos L. Ortega, 45, a former Spanish teacher and girls tennis coach at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania has reportedly been arrested on allegations that he made inappropriate sexual advances toward a 17-year-old female student.
Reportedly, Ortega is charged with endangering the welfare of children, sexual contact/communication with a minor, corruption of minors and indecent assault.
It is alleged that in January that Ortega began sending the girl sexually charged e-mails and continued making unwanted and improper advances over the course of two months. It is further alleged that Ortega at one point suggested having sex with her and would supply alcohol to celebrate her acceptance to college.
Reportedly, Ortega came to the attention of school administrators and authorities after he allegedly made suggestive comments to the girl and tried to kiss her after class in February. Reportedly the alleged victim ran from the room crying and told a friend, who told a school official. As a result, Ortega was ordered off campus and was forced to resign two days later.
The parents of the student reported the alleged incidents to police in late March.
References:
Sex charges filed against former Hill School teacher, coach (08/26/10)
James Bruce Valkema, 32, a Spanish teacher and bowling coach at South Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan has reportedly been arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a fifteen-year-old female student.
Reportedly, Valkema was arrested on July 12th on five counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.
It is alleged that Valkema had sex with the alleged victim several times at his home. It is further alleged that the girl told officers it happened every Friday and Saturday from April 13th until the beginning of June.
Valkema came to the attention of police after the girl told a counselor of the alleged sexual abuse.
Valkema was arraigned and is reportedly being held in lieu of $500,000 bond. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Valkema, who has been with the school for 10 years, is reportedly suspended without pay.
07/27/10 – Probable Cause Hearing Adjourned
A probable cause hearing for James Bruce Valkema was adjourned today.
One report indicates that the adjournment is in order for the prosecution and defense to work out a plea agreement.
Another report indicates that the adjournment was requested by the defense in order to pour over a large amount of evidence that was turned over to the defense last week.
(01/29/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Curtis Harold Key, 38, a former language teacher at Haverford High School in Haverford, Pennsylvania has been initially charged with a first-degree misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors on allegations he had a sexual relationship with a then 16-year-old male student.
Key has been given 24 hours to turn himself in to authorities.
Key came to the attention of police after an initial investigation by school officials. School officials referred the alleged victim and his parents to police.
It is alleged that in early October that the student told Key he “had feelings” for him and according to the alleged victim, Key told him he had feelings for him also.
Allegedly the relationship began with Key and the boy exchanging Internet messages and expressing feelings and making arrangements to meet. Reportedly, the boy enrolled in a Chinese club moderated by Key in order to provide time for the pair to speak privately before and after club meetings.
It is further alleged that the relationship became physical on October 17th, when the pair kissed. It is further alleged that the boy told police that he and Key met at Key’s residence and engaged in various sexual activities.
(07/01/10 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Alex Laird Tinsley, 51, a language teacher at Longmont High School in Longmont, Colorado has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child younger than 16.
Reportedly, Tinsley turned himself in at the Longmont Police Department and was booked on suspicion of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust with a pattern of abuse.
Tinsley’s arrest came just hours before he was scheduled to fly to Japan with a group of teenagers who were enrolled in the Longmont Karate Club, where he taught.
The investigation began Tuesday after police received a call from a woman who said she saw Tinsley and a young teenage girl being “obviously intimate” in a Longmont Starbucks. Allegedly, the witness saw Tinsley rubbing the girl’s leg. When officers arrived to investigate, Tinsley insisted the relationship was as teacher and student.
Reportedly, both Tinsley and the girl told police they were meeting at the shop as part of their normal school activities, however after interviewing the student’s mother, police began to suspect that Tinsley had sexual contact with the girl on repeated occasions over the course of several months.
(1/30/08 – Initial BBT Report)
William Allen “Bill” Beeson, 58, a former English and theater arts teacher at Virginia City High School, in Virginia City, Nevada has been arrested on suspicion of felony sexual assault of a child under the age of 16, suspicion of felony sexual assault and suspicion of misdemeanor unlawful conduct with a child.
Following his arrest Beeson was held on $150,000 bond.
Beeson was fired from the school last August after having been placed on administrative leave in the wake of accusations of improperly touching a male student in April.
The current charges are the result of the alleged incident last year.
Officers are investigating previous cases in which Beeson was accused by two former students of improperly touching them in the 1990s.
1/31/08 – Bail Reduction
Dozens of supporters watch as judge lowers William Beeson’s bail from $150,000 to $25,000.
Bail was conditioned upon Beeson having no contact with alleged victims or their families, surrendering his passport and not leaving northern Nevada.