(2/15/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Thomas Gellatly, 62, a teacher at McMillian Magnet Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska has been arrested after German investigators allegedly linked him to an Internet child pornography site.

Gellatly made an appearance in federal court Friday afternoon and was released after his court appearance. He is charged with possession of child pornography and distributing child pornography.

Allegedly federal agents found several images on Gellatly’s computer featuring young boys who were nude from the waist down.

Gellatly has been suspended from his duties at the school and Omaha Public Schools has begun steps to terminate his employment.

12/11/08 – Sentencing

Thomas Gellatly, who pleaded guilty on August 21st to receiving child pornography, has been sentenced.

Gellatly was sentenced to 60 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

The cyber crimes investigation into Gellatly began when the German National Police identified 106 AOL members, including Gellatly, in the United States who had received child porn.

References:

60-month sentence in child porn case (12/11/08)

Former Omaha teacher sentenced for child porn (12/11/08)

Former Omaha teacher sentenced for child porn (12/11/08)

Omaha Teacher Arrested for Child Porn (2/15/08)

Teacher Appears In Federal Court On Child Porn Charge (2/15/08)

(11/18/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Drew Sanders, 23, a former employee of the Gering School District in Gering, Nebraska has been sentenced for sending sexually explicit text massages to a 14-year-old girl.

Sanders, prior to his resignation in April, reportedly worked as a substitute para-educator at the junior high and a part-time janitor at an elementary school in Gering.

Prosecutors charged Sanders in April on a charge of enticement of a minor by electronic device. Ultimately a plea deal was struck and Sanders pleaded guilty in July. As part of the plea deal the prosecution agreed to seek only probation but had not agreed to reduce the charge because Sanders’ had been in a position of authority at the time of the offense.

Scottsbluff Judge Leo Dobrovolny sentenced Sanders to 60 days in jail and 60 months of probation, with the probation period to include 90 days of electronic monitoring.

Additionally Sanders was ordered to stay away from schools other than the community college he attends and have no contact with anyone younger than 18, outside of his family members.

Sanders came to the attention of authorities when the girl’s mother discovered that Sanders had been sending explicit text massages to her 14-year-old daughter and contacted school officials. School administrators in turn confronted Sanders who resigned. School administrators called police.

Sanders reportedly told police that he initially believed the girl, who he had meet during wrestling practices, was 17 years old. Sanders said they had been texting and talking on the phone for about a month. He admitted that the two had kissed but said no other sexual contact had occurred.

Thanks to one of our many fine readers for bringing this case to our attention. – webmaster

(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 she 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)