(3/10/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Kason M. O’Neil, 26, a physical education teacher and track coach at Hudson Falls High School in Hudson Falls, New York has been arrested on allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student in 2005 and 2006.

O’Niel has been charged with two counts of second-degree rape and police believe there were additional encounters between the two for which O’Neil has not yet been charged.

O’Neil came to the attention of authorities when the girl made the allegations to officials at her current school.

O’Neil who has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school system was being held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bail bond.

3/20/08 – Indictment

Kason O’Neil has been indicted by a Washington County grand jury on 21 charges that accuse him of having sex with an underage student 20 times between 2005 and 2007.

O’Neil is free on bail pending arraignment on March 28th.

3/28/08 – Arraignment

Kason O’Neil was arraigned today in Washington County Court. O’Neil entered a not guilty plea to a 21-count indictment accusing him of having sex with a then-14-year-old student in 2005 and 2006.

According to O’Neil’s attorney the indictment is riddled with errors and the charges “won’t stick”.

O’Neil’s attorney also indicated that he felt “ambushed” when the prosecutor asked that police be allowed to photograph O’Neil’s genitalia and legs.

O’Neil remains free on bond.

09/18/08 – A Split Verdict

After four days of deliberations, which at times appeared deadlocked, a Washington County jury has acquitted Kason O’Neil on all felony charges in a case in which he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl on the track team he coached in 2005 at Hudson Falls High School.

The jury did convict O’Neil on on two misdemeanor charges; endangering the welfare of the child and sex abuse.

Sentencing on the two misdemeanor counts is set for October 17th.

O’Neil faces a sentencing range from probation up to a year in jail for the counts on which he was found guilty.

O’Neil’s attorney praised the jury for finding his client not guilty on the most serious charges but indicated he will appeal the misdemeanor convictions.

09/24/08 – Details of Jury Deliberations

According to the Post-Star report, a link to which appears below, the jury was basically deadlocked at 11-1 in favor of conviction on all charges.

Owing to a single hold-out juror, an apparent compromise verdict was struck finding O’Neil not guilty on all felony charges and guilty on the two misdemeanor charges.

10/17/08 – Sentencing

Kason M. O’Neil has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and 3 years probation.

Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan stayed the sentence for 120 days and allowed O’Neil to remain free on bail while he appeals the conviction.

O’Neil has resigned from the school district.

10/22/09 – Supreme Court Appellate Division Overturns Conviction

Despite a jury’s verdict, the Supreme Court Appellate Division Thursday ruled there was not enough evidence to support the charges of misdemeanor sex abuse and endangering the welfare against Kason O’Neil and overturned the conviction.

The high held that trial testimony did not provide enough proof to support the charges and the justices questioned the motives of the victim. In rendering their decision, the justices indicated, “The victim’s testimony was laden with inconsistencies, contradicted other evidence and, at times, strained credulity”.

The entire appeals court ruling, in ‘PDF format’ is available at this link.

Webmaster’s note: Thanks to “wtf” whose comment brought to our attention the latest developments in this case.

References:

Sex charges against coach dropped (10/22/09)

Hudson Falls teacher gets 60-day jail term in sex case; resigns from district (10/17/08)

Juror in teacher sex trial details deliberations (09/24/08)

Teacher acquitted on most serious charges in sex case (09/18/08)

O’Neil acquitted of felony charges (09/18/08)

Coach denies sex with teen girl (3/28/08)

HF teacher/coach indicted on 21 charges (3/20/08)

Hudson Falls teacher, coach faces sex charges (3/10/08)

Hudson Falls coach accused of rape (3/10/08)

(3/26/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Jennifer Dempsey, 28, a Spanish teacher and cheerleader coach at Oswego High School in Oswego, New York has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

It is alleged that Dempsey was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old male student.

Dempsey was arrested Tuesday and given an appearance ticket citing her into court on April 3rd.

It is alleged the relationship between teacher and student was intimate and ongoing.

Dempsey has been placed on paid administrative suspension as a result of her arrest.

In February she was suspended when parents complained to high school officials that Dempsey had sent inappropriate electronic messages to their children. She had returned to work about two weeks prior to her arrest.

10/21/09 – Charges Dismissed

In May, Oswego County District Attorney Donald Dodd announced that Jennifer Dempsey was cleared of any wrongdoing and the state was dismissing the child endangerment charge against her.

Webmaster’s note: Thanks to “Pikaia” whose comment provided notification of the conclusion of this case.

References:

Former teacher in NY cleared of endangerment (05/15/09)

Police: High school teacher had inappropriate relation with teen (3/26/08)

Teacher Accused in Relationship (3/26/08)

Police: High school teacher had affair with teen (3/26/08)

(10/08/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Gerald Koch, 49, former girls’ soccer coach at Blue Ridge High School in New Milford, Pennsylvania has reportedly been arrested on federal charges of persuading a minor to cross a state line to have sex and tampering with a witness or victim.

Koch appeared before a federal magistrate on Wednesday and was ordered held in the Broome County Jail for a bail hearing set for Friday in federal court in Binghamton, New York.

It is alleged that Koch, who lives in Brackney, Pennsylvania and who worked in Binghamton, New York sent hundreds of sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old girl that he coached and with whom he allegedly had a sexual relationship.

It is further alleged that Koch set up secret meetings to have sex with the girl, including at least once in a school building between soccer games.

Koch came to the attention of school officials in January when the girl’s father became suspicious and confiscated his daughter’s cell phone and allegedly discovered late night calls between his daughter and Koch.

In February, the girl’s father against confiscated and examined her cell phone and also one Koch alleged provided her. The girl’s father reportedly then turned the cell phones over to police.

Reportedly, investigators have since downloaded hundreds of sexually explicit text messages between the two with the texts filling more than 50 pages of court documents and providing details of the alleged sexual relationship and efforts on the part of Koch to get the girl to lie to cover it up.

10/09/09 – Federal Grand Jury Indictment

One day after his arrest, a federal grand jury in Binghamton, New York on Thursday indicted Gerald Koch on four separate counts including the following:

Persuading, inducing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Transporting a minor in interstate commerce to engage in sexual activity.

Travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Tampering with a witness/victim.