(09/22/08 - Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Robert (Bob) Griffith Jr., 55, a former school bus driver in the Doniphan School District, in Doniphan, Missouri has been found guilty on one count of child molestation in a jury trial which concluded with the jury’s verdicts on Saturday.

The jury found Griffith not guilty on one count of child molestation and two counts of statutory sodomy.

Griffith was was accused in late 2006 and early 2007 of molesting two boys and two girls during his afternoon prekindergarten bus route.

Last year, a judge allowed charges to go forward alleging the sexual abuse of three of those children. Prosecutors decided to go to trial on two charges each of statutory sodomy and child molestation alleging then a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl victims.

During the course of jury deliberations the jury twice asked the judge to let them declare a hung jury and twice they were refused, eventually returning the single guilty verdict and recommending a five year prison sentence in what may have been a compromise between jurors.

Formal sentencing is set for October 20, until that time Griffith remains free on $100,000 bond.

References:

Former Doniphan, Mo., school bus driver found guilty of child molestation (09/22/08)

(07/25/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Laura Kirkland, 25, a fifth-grade teacher at Christian Schools of Springfield, in Springfield, Missouri has been arrested on charges of rape and sodomy of a now 11-year-old boy, who she baby sat and allegedly sexually abused for two years.

Kirkland is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy with a person less than 14 years old and one count of statutory rape with a person less than 14 years old.

It is alleged that Kirkland had sexual intercourse and oral sex with the boy repeatedly for two years when the boy was between 8 to 10 years old. All the the alleged incident are said to have taken place in Kirkland’s home and when she was baby sitting the alleged victim.

Bond for Kirkland was set at $75,000 and conditioned upon her having no contact with the victim or any child under 17 and she may not be anywhere children congregate. Reportedly Kirkland had not made bail as of Thursday evening.

Media reports indicate that Kirkland has been employed by the school for three years and in addition to working at the school, Kirkland also worked at a day care facility.

09/05/08 - Court Appearance

Laura Kirkland has made her initial court appearance and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Police say the woman admitted to performing oral sex on the minor three times, and having sex with him twice.

Kirkland’s next court appearance is set for December 2nd.

References:

Woman charged with sexually abusing boy she baby-sat (09/05/08)

Woman faces charges of having sex with boy (07/25/08)

Day-care worker accused of raping boy (07/25/08)

Woman Charged with Statutory Rape (07/24/08)

Babysitter is accused of having sex with 10-year-old boy (07/23/08)

Charging documents in the case of Laura Kirkland are available in ‘PDF format’ by Clicking Here or Here.

(7/09/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Cathy Heminghaus, 47, of Ferguson, Missouri a former Special School District teacher at Ferguson Middle School today pleaded no contest to 21 counts of performing oral sex on four of her male students.

In addition to the 21 counts of statutory sodomy, Heminghaus also pleaded no contest to two counts of a teacher having sex with a student and two counts of providing alcohol to minors.

Heminghaus came to the attention of authorities in January, 2006 after she allegedly told friends that that she had performed oral sex on middle school students. School officials were tipped off and called police.

Originally Heminghaus was charged with 19 counts involving three victims, however the charges were expanded to 21 counts to cover a fourth victim. The incidents between Heminghaus and the victims took place at the Ferguson Middle School and one other unspecified location.

According to prosecutors the victims were under Heminghaus’ jurisdiction for minor behavorial problems and ranged in age from 13 to 15-years-old at the time of the offenses.

Heminghaus had no plea agreement regarding punishment and faces a sentencing range from probation to life in prison plus 150 year. Sentencing will be determined by Judge David Lee Vincent III and is set for September 14th.

The prosecution has indicated it will request a sentence in excess of 12 years.

9/14/07 - Judge Recuses Himself

Sentencing for Cathy Heminghaus was postponed on Friday when Judge David Lee Vincent III recused himself from the case.

Judge Vincent said his predecessor, retired Judge Kenneth M. Weinstock, wrote a personal letter to Vincent asking the judge to not impose jail time for Heminghaus. Weinstock wrote the letter supporting Heminghaus because he is friends with the former teacher’s husband.

Judge Vincent said the letter “doesn’t look good,” and it called into question whether he could fairly sentence Heminghaus.

A new judge will be appointed to take over the case.

11/16/07 - Heminghaus Withdraws No Contest Plea

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Michael T. Jamison ruled this afternoon that Cathy Heminghaus could withdraw the plea she had entered on July 9 before Judge David Lee Vincent III.

After her plea, Heminghaus faced a sentence ranging from probation to life in prison, plus 150 years.

Judge Jamison set a trial date of December 13th for Heminghaus.

07/03/08 - Guilty Verdict on 7 of 25 Counts

A St. Louis County Circuit Court has found Cathy Heminghaus guilty on three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of a teacher having sex with a student and two counts of plying minors with alcohol.

Heminghaus was found not guilty on one count of first-degree statutory sodomy and on 17 other statutory sodomy counts.

The defense claimed that Heminghaus was forced to perform oral sex on one boy on one occassion and denied all other oral sex allegations. The defense contended that Heminghause feared that the teen who forced her into the classroom oral sex incident would harm her son or daughter so she did let him and his friends drive her car.

Heminghaus testified that the teens forced her to sit in a back seat that folded down into the trunk, put her coat on top of her, played music as loudly as they could and drove for hours around north St. Louis County. Heminghaus testified that this happened about 15 times. She also said that she would hide in the trunk of the car in order that she would not have to perform sex acts when the boys stopped the car to visit friends.

The four alleged victims, who were 13 to 16-years-old at the time, testified that Heminghaus was the originator of the plan and willingly performed sex acts on them at the school, in her car and at a park.

The jury will return to court today for the punishment phase of the trial.

07/04/08 - Punishment Phase

The jury which found Cathy Heminghaus guilty on seven counts deliberated her sentence on Thursday and returned its sentencing verdict after 90 minutes.

The jury’s decision calls for two years in prison on each of three counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of a teacher having sex with a student, plus fines for two counts of plying minors with alcohol.

Formal sentencing is set for August 20th at which time St. Louis County Circuit Judge Michael T. Jamison will announce his decision as to the amount of the fines and whether the prison terms will run consecutively, making for a 10 year prison sentence, or concurrently, making for a two year prison sentence or something in between.

Heminghaus remains under house arrest pending sentencing.

09/03/08 - Sentencing

Cathy Heminghaus, facing between and 2 and 10 years in prison, was today sentenced to six years.

Judge Michael Jamison also fined Heminghaus $1,000 on the alcohol-related counts.

References:

Former teacher gets 6 years for sex acts (09/03/08)

Ex-teacher gets 6 years for sex acts (09/03/08)

Jury recommends prison for teacher in sex case (07/04/08)

Ex-teacher convicted of sex acts on students (07/03/08)

Teacher testifies in her trial (07/02/08)

Daughter among witnesses for teacher accused of sex acts with students (07/01/08)

Special school district teacher withdraws plea (11/16/07)

Judge delays sex case hearing

Ex-teacher pleads no contest to sex charges (7/10/07)

No contest plea in teacher sex case (7/09/07)

Background:

Special School District Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students

Ferguson teacher charged with sodomy

(08/05/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Joshua Joseph Long, 30, girls’ basketball coach at East Newton High School in Granby, Missouri has been charged with second-degree statutory rape of a 16-year-old female.

Long who was only recently hired by the school district has resigned in the wake of his arrest. The upcoming season would have been his first.

It is alleged that Long has sex with the girl in the kitchen of his home on June 12th.

It is reported that when initially questioned by police, Long denied sexual contact with the girl but subsequently admitted to having sex with her three times at his home.

The girl reportedly told investigators that she and Long had been exchanging text messages about having sex before she went to his home for the first sexual encounter.

Reportedly Long and the girl exchanged nude pictures via cellphone.

Webmaster’s note: Age of consent in Missouri is 17-years-old.

08/22/08 - More Charges and a Not Guilty Plea

On Monday, prosecutors amended the complaint against Joshua Long adding two additional counts of statutory rape. The new charges allege sexual encounters between Long and the alleged victim in the month of May.

On Thursday Long entered a not guilty plea to all three counts.

A preliminary hearing for Long is reportedly scheduled for September 3rd.

References:

Former coach faces more counts of statutory rape (08/22/08)

Ex-coach faces two more charges (08/21/08)

Additional Rape Charges Filed Against Former Girls Coach (08/21/08)

EN ?coach quits after rape charge (08/05/08)

Coach, charged with rape, resigns (08/04/08)

Probable Cause Affidavit and Charges

(08/18/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Michael Wilson, 45, of West Plains, Missouri, a former teacher at West Plains High School, in West Plains, Missouri has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possessing and receiving child pornography over the Internet.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri:

Wilson, 45, of West Plains, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Aug. 6,2008. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Wilson’s arrest and initial court appearance on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008.

It is alleged by the indictment that Wilson received child pornography over the Internet from April 8, 2005, to July 20, 2007.

The indictment in addition to the criminal charges seeks the forfeiture of a laptop computer allegedly used in the crimes.

References:

FORMER WEST PLAINS TEACHER INDICTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (08/18/08)

Former Teacher Indicted (08/18/08)

Former teacher indicted for child porn (08/18/08)