(06/05/08 - Initial BBT Report)
Melvin Antonio Smith III, 21, a former volunteer coach at Washington and Lee High School in Montross, Virginia pleaded guilty Westmoreland County Circuit Court to four felony counts of soliciting sexually explicit material from members of a girls’ softball team and a misdemeanor count of attempting to have sex with a child 15 years or older.

As part of the plea agreement between Smith and prosecutors, Smith will be sentenced to 41 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended.

Smith will be required to register as a sex offender and will be prohibited contact with his victims or their families.

In return for Smith’s pleas, prosecutors dropped seven felony and one misdemeanor charge.

Smith faces a July 14th trial on additional charges in Richmond County.

Webmaster’s Note: On 4/20/2007 it was reported that the Richmond County charges had been dropped. Please see report link below. We have been able to find no reference to how the Richmond County charges were reinstated.

07/16/08 - Sentencing

Melvin Antonio Smith III has been sentenced in Westmorland County to a total of 71 years in prison for eight sex crimes against a 14-year-old player.

In keeping with Smith’s plea agreement, the judge suspended all but 18 months of that sentence.

Last month Smith pleaded guilty in Westmorland County to four felony charges of soliciting sexually explicit material from the girl and one misdemeanor charge of attempting to have sex with her.

Today he pleaded guilty to two more Richmond County felony charges of sexual intercourse and animate object penetration.

Smith was also placed on probation for five years, required to register as a violent sex offender and avoid contact with his victim and her family for the rest of his life.

References:

Westmoreland coach sentenced for sex crimes (07/16/08)

Former coach pleads guilty to sex charges (06/05/08)

Coach’s charges dropped (04/20/07)

(07/11/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Danny Lee Swartz, 41, of Richlands, Virginia a former band director at Richlands High School in Richlands, Virginia has been indicted by a grand jury on seven counts of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship.

According to the Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorney’s press release, the indictment alleges that through the 2007/2008 school year, that Swartz sexually abused more than one student by sexually touching, proposing sexual acts, sexually exposing himself to students and asking a student to expose himself.

Reportedly the investigation of Swartz came at the request of the Tazewell County School Board.

Swartz, who reportedly taught at the school for 12 years, resigned from the school system earlier this year.

Following his arrest Swartz was being held in the Southwest Regional Jail.

References:

Richlands man indicted by Grand Jury (07/11/08)

Jury Indictment (07/11/08)

Former Richlands band director charged with sexual abuse (07/10/08)

Tazewell County Teacher Indicted On Sex Charges (07/10/08)

(06/14/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Michael Patrick Harris, 31, a former health and physical education teacher at Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach, Virginia has been sentenced on one count of indecent liberties with a custodial minor.

Harris was arrested in January 2007 on allegations that he touched the breast of a 13-year-old girl while she was changing clothes at his home.

The girl was a friend of Harris’ babysitter. One of Harris’ children, a 5-year-old daughter, was in the room at the time.

Harris pleaded guilty in March of this year.

On Friday Harris was sentenced to five years in prison, four of which were suspended. He was also ordered to complete a sex offender program, register as a sex offender and avoid unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Last week Harris, who has been on suspension without pay from the school system since his January 2007 arrest, was fired.

References:

Ex-Beach teacher sentenced for fondling 13-year-old girl (06/14/08)

Teacher who admitted touching teen to be sentenced Friday (06/11/008)

Beach teacher who admitted inappropriate touching is fired (06/11/08)

(05/30/08 - Initial BBT Report)

Paula Tomlin, 36, a former school bus driver and part-time teacher’s aide in the Staunton, Virginia school system has been arrested and charged with three counts of a custodian taking indecent liberties with a child and with four counts of indecent liberties.

It is alleged that Tomlim had been involved in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student the regional Genesis Alternative School. It is alleged that the sexual relationship started about three weeks ago.

Reportedly the school system contacted police regarding the relationship on Wednesday night. Investigators interviewed both Tomlin and the alleged victim. Tomlin was arrested on Thursday night.

Following her arrest Tomlin was being held at the Middle River Regional Jail and faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Reportedly Tomlin resigned from Staunton schools.

References:

School Bus Driver Facing Sex Charges (05/30/08)

Police: City bus driver had sexual relationship with student (05/30/08)

(3/28/08 - Initial BBT Report)

John Byron Shulick, 53, a teacher at Bull Run Middle School, in Gainesville, Virginia has been charged with producing child pornography after authorities say they discovered he was having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Shulick was arrested today and charged in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia on allegations that investigators discovered videos on Shulick’s computer in which he and the teenage girl engaged in sex acts along with other images of child pornography.

Shulick came to the attention of authorities when the boy friend of the girl’s mother saw the girl getting out of a truck driven by an older man.

Allegedly Shulick and the girl met on the internet and the girl has admitted to her parents that she was having sex with Shulick.

05/29/08 - Guilty Plea

John Byron Schulick has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges.

Court documents reveal that Shulick admitted taking pornographic pictures and videos of an underage girl.

Sentencing for Shulick is set for August 22nd and he faces federal prison sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years.

08/22/08 - Sentencing

John Shulick has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

References:

Va. ex-teacher gets 15 years for child porn (08/22/08)

Middle school teacher pleads guilty to child porn charges (05/28/08)

Middle School Teacher Accused Of Producing Child Porn (3/28/08)

Va. Teacher Charged with Producing Child Porn (3/28/08)

Teacher Charged with Producing Child Porn (3/28/08)