(09/11/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Gerald William Lemay, 46, a substitute teacher in Butte County, California has been arrested after he allegedly solicited sex online from a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.

The “girl” was in reality an undercover detective conducting an Internet sting for the Santa Cruz, California Police Department.

Allegedly Lemay was supposed to meet the “girl” in Santa Cruz for the purpose of having sex with her, but never showed up.

Lemay was arrested at his home on a warrant Wednesday afternoon, after he failed to show up in Santa Cruz.

Reportedly, Butte County school officials were notified of Lemay’s arrest on Wednesday.

Lemay is the third teacher arrested on suspicion of sex crimes against minors by Santa Cruz police in the past month. The other two teacher arrested in the same Internet sting are James Barany and Forest Miles.

References:

Another teacher suspected of pursuing underage girls online (09/11/08)

Substitute Teacher Nabbed In Online Sex Sting (09/11/08)

(08/29/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Darin M. Strong, a physical education teacher and former girls volleyball coach at Ithaca High School, in Ithaca, New York is facing felony sex crime charges in Tyrone, Pa.

It is alleged that Strong used an Internet chat program and an online identity of “dstrong03″ to make sexual conversation with a citizen of Pennsylvania posing as a 13-year-old girl. It is further alleged that Strong sent sexual Webcam images of himself to that person.

The “citizen of Pennsylvania”, who belongs to an organization dedicated to educating parents and children about online predators, presented the photos and a record of the online conversation to police and police developed Strong’s identity and employment information via the screen name and contacted Ithaca, New York Police.

Following his arrest in Ithica, N.Y., Strong was extradited to Tyrone, Pennsylvania and charged with felony offenses of attempting to disseminate sexually explicit materials to minors, attempted unlawful contact with a minor with the purpose of committing a sexual offense, criminal use of a communication facility and indecent exposure, a misdemeanor.

Following his arraignment in Tyrone Town Court Strong was released on his own recognizance.

Ithaca City School Superintendent Judith Pastel said Strong is still employed by the district but said she could not disclose his employment status.

09/10/08 - Case Moving To County Court

The charge of criminal attempt of indecent exposure against Darin Strong which was filed in Tyrone Town Court has been dropped.

The remaining three charges are being sent to Blair County Court.

Strong is scheduled for arraignment in Blair County Court on October 17th.

References:

Ithaca teacher case sent to county court in Penn. (9/10/08)

Pennsylvania resident helps arrest IHS teacher (09/03/08)

Ithaca teacher, coach charged with sex crimes (08/29/08)

(09/05/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Charles “Charlie’’ Dunbar, 29, a volunteer girl’s soccer coach at Proctor High School in Duluth, Minnesota was being transported to Miami, Florida today to face federal charges that he distributed child pornography over the Internet.

Dunbar is charged in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida with transporting by interstate commerce visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

It is alleged that an undercover law enforcement officer in Miami posing as a single mother with a 10-year-old daughter was targeting child predators in a Yahoo chat room when a person identifying himself as “c _dunbar_35” was encountered and indicated that he was interested in engaging in sexual activity with the 10-year-old.

It is further alleged that “c _dunbar_35” sent nude photos of himself and later a streaming video of himself masturbating to the “girl”.

Dunbar was traced by federal agents after he allegedly sent three images which depicted a young girl’s soccer team and/or the coaching staff. The uniforms were green and white and lettered “Proctor Rails.’’ A data base search guided the agents to Proctor High School in Duluth.

School officials indicate that they do not believe any of the school’s students were victimized by Dunbar however the school is making counselors available for students.

Dunbar had been a volunteer coach with the school for 3 years.

References:

Volunteer soccer coach charged with distributing child porn (09/05/08)

Duluth soccer coach faces porn charges in Miami (09/05/08)

(08/15/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Stacy Lynn Tucker, 39, a former band teacher at Izard County Consolidated School in Brockwell, Arkansas has been indicted on one count child pornography by a federal grand jury in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Tucker was indicted as the result of an internet sting after he allegedly entered an Internet chat room and began talking with an individual he thought was a 14-year-old female from Mississippi but who was actually an undercover officer in another state.

Allegedly Tucker began chatting in January of this year with the officer and represented himself as an Arkansas couple comprised of a 39-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman and indicated that he wanted to trade “naughty” pictures with the young girl. It is also alleged that Tucker asked if the girl was a virgin and repeatedly asked to role play as a father and daughter, young neighbor or teacher and student.

Over the course of the chats it is alleged that Tucker sent multiple sexually explicit images of adults as well as what appeared to be a self-photograph of a nude white female approximately 11-13 years old to the officer.

It is also alleged that on April 5, Tucker and the girl role played father and daughter and that Tucker initiated a sexually explicit conversation during which he described performing oral sex on the girl and asked her to perform sex acts for “daddy.”

By April officers had determined Tucker’s identity and location and obtained a warrant to search his residence. On June 5, officers confiscated a laptop computer, with a web camera, along with other computer related items, telephone numbers and an envelope bearing possible passwords from Tucker’s residence.

Tucker who worked for the Izard County Consolidated School District as a band teacher for grades 5-12 during the 2006-2007 school year submitted his resignation June 19th.

09/05/08 - Sentencing

Stacy Lynn Tucker who pleaded guilty in March to a single count of possession of child pornography has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Tucker’s prison sentence will be followed by 25 years of supervised release. Tucker will also be required to undergo mental health counseling and treatment and to register as a sex offender. Among conditions imposed upon Tucker are monitored Internet access and no contact with minor children without the consent of a probation officer.

Thanks to “Citizen” whose comment prompted us to get this article updated with the latest developments. - Webmaster

References:

Former ICC teacher sentenced (09/11/08)

Former Band Director Sentenced (09/05/08)

Former ICC teacher indicted (8/29/07)

Former band teacher indicted for porn (8/15/07)

(09/18/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Edward Michael Kowalski, 51, a gym teacher at White Cloud Middle School, in White Cloud, Michigan has been arrested on allegations of soliciting sex from a 15-year-old girl on the Internet.

The “15-year-old girl” was actually an undercover police officer in Adrian.

Kowalski, of Big Rapids, Michigan, was nabbed in an undercover online sex sting and is set to be arraigned on September 19th. He is charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.

Kowalski is free on a personal-recognizance bond pending arraignment.

Reportedly Kowalski is on paid administrative leave.

Reportedly, when police searched Kowalski’s home they didn’t find his computer. But two hours after they left, Kowalski was seen dumping a bag, which police later found containing broken computer parts.

04/23/08 - Guilty Verdict

A jury deliberated for three hours and found Edward Kowalski guilty on both charges to the surprise of Kowalski’s attorney who presented no witnesses and offered no evidence in defense of his client.

Kowalski faces a maximum of 10 years in prison although his attorney expects at most an 11 month sentence.

Kowalski’s attorney indicated an appeal will occur.

05/19/08 - Sentencing Postponed

Sentencing for Edward Kowalski has been postponed until June 5th in order that a private expert can examine an Adrian Police Department computer for evidence a defense attorney said could help win a new trial for Kowalski. The examination of the computer is the result of a subpoena served on Adrian police days after the trial, seeking an inspection of the computer used by Detective Vincent Emrick in chats with Kowalski.

The defense has indicated that it will be filing a motion for a new trial.

06/14/08 - Sentencing

Edward Kowalski has been sentenced to to six months in jail with credit for 51 days served, placed on probation for five years, ordered to undergo sex offender counseling and to register as a sex offender.

Additionally Kowalski has been ordered to pay court costs of $1,200 and other fees, is not allowed to own or possess a computer or any device that could be connected to the Internet and is to have no contact with any minor, except family members under supervision.

Kowalski’s defense is filing appeals as well as a motion for a new trial.

07/15/08 - Motion Hearing Delayed

A hearing regarding the defense motion for a new trial has been delayed until August 22.

When the judge learned that expert witnesses for the prosecution and defense would be appearing as “dueling experts” the hearing was delayed as only 15 minutes had been allocated for yesterday’s hearing. The delay will provided the time required to conduct a hearing which will focus on the expert testimony.

08/23/08 - Motion For New Trial Denied

Edward Michael Kowalski’s motion for a new trail has been rejected after his attorney failed to prove claims an Adrian police detective committed perjury.

Kowalski is nearing the end of his six month jail sentence.

References:

Motion for new trial rejected (08/23/08)

Hearing on teacher’s conviction delayed (07/15/08)

Teacher gets jail term in sex sting (06/13/08)

Defense expert to search police computer used in teacher sex sting (05/19/08)

Teacher convicted in Internet sex sting (04/23/08)

Attorney: Teacher’s chat inappropriate, not crime (9/18/07)

White Cloud teacher nabbed in sex sting (9/18/07)