11/01/07 - Initial BBT Report)

Kelsey Peterson, 25, a sixth-grade teacher and basketball coach at Lexington Middle School, in Lexington, Nebraska, is the subject of a nationwide search and is wanted for kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Peterson is accused of running off with Fernando Rodriguez, a 13-year-old male student. Peterson at the time of her disappearance was under investigation for having a sexual relationship with the boy.

Peterson was placed on administrative leave last week and the school contacted police to report that administrators had reason to believe that Peterson was having some sort of relationship with Rodriguez.

According to police, correspondence uncovered in an investigation shows the two have had a sexual relationship for some time.

Letters allegedly sent by Rodriguez while living at a home for at-risk boys in Alliance refers to teacher Kelsey Peterson as his “Baby Gurl” and says that their relationship is about more than sex. It is also alleged that correspondence written by Peterson and found on school computers supports the allegations against Peterson.

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(08/26/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Tammy Walnofer, 38, a former teacher from Battle Creek, Nebraska accused of having sex with a 15 year-old boy has accepted a plea deal under which entered a no contest plea to a lesser charge.

Walnofer, was originally charged with 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Minor, on allegations she had a sexual relationship with the boy in 2005. She pleaded no contest to a lesser felony charge of child abuse.

Walnofer and her then 15-year-old daughter went missing from in May 2006. Their vehicle was found two months later in a Wal-Mart parking lot in North Logan, Utah.

Walnofer was found in an Oxnard, California motel in March 2007 and was ultimately extradited back to Nebraska to face sexual assault charges.

Following Walnofer’s no contest plea a pre-sentence investigation report was ordered.

Sentencing was set for October 20th.

Sentencing Set In Student-Teacher Scandal (08/26/08)

Neb. woman pleads no contest in teen sex case (08/26/08)

Plea agreement reached in sexual assault case (08/23/08)

(07/23/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Stephanie A. Draper, 35, a former teacher at Millard North Middle School and Beadle Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska turned herself in and been arrested on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a student six years ago.

An affidavit for the warrant for Draper’s arrest indicates that the student, now 21, told an investigator that he and Draper had a relationship between February and April 2002, when he was 14 and was attending Beadle Middle School.

It is alleged that Draper and the student had sex twice at her house. It is further alleged that on another occasion that Draper and the boy drove to Washington County, where they kissed, near the site where Draper and her husband were building a house. There is an alleged fourth incident, one said to have occurred at at Draper’s house during which the two did not have sex. It is further alleged that while at Draper’s house the boy drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes.

The alleged victim has admitted to investigators that he recently called Draper and tried to extort $5,000 in hush money from her and that she said she did not have the money but would give him a ring worth that much if the boy would promise there would be no more threats, no more calls and no more e-mails.

Draper turned herself in early this morning and after being booked into the Sarpy County Jail she was released on 10 percent of $100,000 bond.

Draper resigned from the school system earlier this year.

08/01/08 - Arraignment

Stephanie Draper was arraigned this morning and entered a plea of not guilty.

Draper remains free on bond.

Her next court appearance is set for November.

References:

Former teacher pleads not guilty in sex assault case (08/01/08)

Former Teacher Arrested in Sex Assault Investigation (07/23/08)

Sexual Assault, Blackmail Case Involves Teacher, Students (07/23/08)

Former Millard teacher turns self in, then posts bail (07/23/08)

Ex-teacher sought in sex assault of student (07/23/08)

(04/15/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Collin Holcomb, a former science teacher at Norris Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska has pleaded no contest to the third degree sexual assault of a then 14-year-old female who was a former student.

Holcomb came to the attention of police when residents living near Churchich Park became suspicious and called police after they saw a truck parked near the park several times last year. One such witness complained to police that a man was meeting a young girl there.

Holcomb’s bond while awaiting sentencing in July was reduced from $1 million to $100,000 conditioned that he continues psychiatric treatment and remains “in the presence” of his parents.

07/21/08 - Sentencing

Today Collin Holcomb was sentenced to prison for between 4 and 5 years for sexually assaulting a teenage girl..

At sentencing Holcom said that his actions were horrible, and said he wanted to become a productive citizen.

Reportedly, Holcomb received credit for 111 days served and will be eligible for parole in two years.

References:

Former Omaha teacher sentenced for sex crime (07/21/08)

OPS Teacher Gets Up To 5 Years For Sex Assault (07/21/08)

Middle School Teacher Pleads No Contest to Sexual Assault (04/15/08)

OPS Teacher Arrested For Sexual Assault

Teacher’s Bond Set At $1M In Sexual Assault Case (05/18/07)

Assault Investigation (05/18/08)

Jason Cunningham, 33, an industrial arts teacher at Malcolm High School in Malcolm, Nebraska has been charged with third-degree sexual assault of two female students.

Cunningham who has taught at the school for two years allegedly touched the inner thigh of an 18-year-old girl in October. She reported the alleged improper touching in January 2008.

During the course of the investigation a second girl reported that Cunningham rubbed her inner thigh while they were in a vehicle returning from a school trip in late August or early September. The girl also alleges that once they got back to the school Cunningham cornered her, while they were alone in an equipment room, and rubbed her shoulder and hair.

The misdemeanor charges carry a penalty of up to a year behind bars on each count.

Cunningham has been placed on administrative leave.

05/27/08 - Pre-trial Diversion Granted

Jason Cunninnngham will be attending pretrial diversion instead of facing trial on two misdemeanor counts of sexual assault.

References:

Former Malcolm teacher won’t face sex charges (05/27/08)

Malcolm teacher charged with sex assault of two girls (2/21/08)

Malcolm Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls (2/21/08)

Malcolm High teacher accused of sex assault (2/19/08)