(9/16/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Richard Foster, 51, a sixth-grade teacher at Bradford Elementary School, in Bradford, Vermont has been arrested on allegations of sexual assault on a minor, lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, possession of child pornography, use of a child in a sexual performance and luring a child for sexual exploitation.

Foster came to the attention of authorities on Friday when a juvenile who formerly lived in Vermont told investigators at the Coral Springs, Florida police department about multiple incidents of alleged sexual contact between the juvenile and Foster.

Authorities in Vermont obtained search warrants for Foster’s home and the school on Saturday. After the search warrants were executed Foster was arrested on multiple felony charges.

Following his arrest, Foster made $30,000 bail on Saturday evening and was released from jail.

On Sunday, a state police received a 911 call from Foster’s home during which a male caller asked police to be sent and hung up. When police arrived at Foster’s home they found him injured from an apparent suicide attempt. Foster was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., in stable condition.

Foster will be arraigned Monday in Vermont District Court in Chelsea, if he is well enough to leave the hospital.

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(12/18/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Eric Achenbach, 59, reportedly a computers and graphic arts at Brattleboro Union High School in Brattleboro, Vermont has been charged with possession of child pornography after two deer hunters stumbled across what is allegedly Achenbach’s collection of child pornography, hidden in the woods.

Reportedly the hunters discovered a purple plastic storage container which upon examination was found to contain child pornography. The hunters reported the discovery to the Vernon Police Department, who in turncontacted the Southeastern Unit for Special Investigators regarding the discovery.

Police suspected that Achembach was connected to the materials since it was found close to his home and some documents in the box contained Achenbach’s name, and were marked with the initials “EA”. Included in the material there was also allegedly found a photograph of Achenbach standing in front of a 1981 Deerfield Elementary School class, where he previously taught.

Police say that when they confronted Achenbach about the chest he admitted it was his and told police that he had hidden it in the woods seven to eight years ago, after he moved from Dover. It is alleged that Achenbach in addition to admitting that the chest was his also admitted to knowing that the chest contained child pornography. It is further alleged that Achembach admitted to police that computer equipment in his home also contained child pornography.

Achenbach has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography and at an initial court appearance pleaded not guilty. He was released on conditions that he have no contact with children and that he only use the Internet in the company of a friend.

Achenbach, who has reportedly taught in the area for 31 years, has been placed on administrative leave by the school system.

Reportedly the investigation is still ongoing but police and prosecutors do not at this time believe that Achembach molested any children or produced any of the child pornography discovered thus far. His computer was confiscated and is being analyzed by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

01/30/09 – Achenbach Surrenders Teacher’s License

Reportedly Eric Achenbach voluntarily surrendered his teaching license on January 16th.

(09/19/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Shawn R. Pratt, 36, a paraprofessional at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vermont has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

It is alleged that on September 14 the girl told her mother that Pratt had been “rubbing my thigh and he rubbed my privates.” .

It is further alleged that incident brought forward other memories of sexual contact with Pratt that the girl says took place when she was 2, 3 or 4-years-old.

Pratt did not meet the alleged victim at the school, nor through his employment at the school.

Pratt has been charged with felony counts of aggravated sexual assault and and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.

Pratt has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is initially being held without bail until a hearing to determine whether he can be released on any set of conditions is held.

Media reports indicate that Pratt who has worked for the school system since 2005 has convictions in Vermont for domestic assault in 2002 and 2007, simple assault in 2007 and possession of marijuana in 2003.

On September 5, Pratt pleaded guilty to another charge of domestic assault. As a result of his latest assault conviction, Pratt is scheduled to serve 24 days at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility beginning on October 5th.

References:

School aide faces sex assault charges (09/19/08)

School worker charged with sexual assault on minor (09/19/08)

Bennington man faces child sex assault charges (09/19/08)