Cathy Heminghaus
Posted by: Webmaster in FE-MV, Hall of Shame, Middle Schools, Missouri, Special Ed
(7/09/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Cathy Heminghaus, 47, of Ferguson, Missouri a former Special School District teacher at Ferguson Middle School today pleaded no contest to 21 counts of performing oral sex on four of her male students.
In addition to the 21 counts of statutory sodomy, Heminghaus also pleaded no contest to two counts of a teacher having sex with a student and two counts of providing alcohol to minors.
Heminghaus came to the attention of authorities in January, 2006 after she allegedly told friends that that she had performed oral sex on middle school students. School officials were tipped off and called police.
Originally Heminghaus was charged with 19 counts involving three victims, however the charges were expanded to 21 counts to cover a fourth victim. The incidents between Heminghaus and the victims took place at the Ferguson Middle School and one other unspecified location.
According to prosecutors the victims were under Heminghaus’ jurisdiction for minor behavorial problems and ranged in age from 13 to 15-years-old at the time of the offenses.
Heminghaus had no plea agreement regarding punishment and faces a sentencing range from probation to life in prison plus 150 year. Sentencing will be determined by Judge David Lee Vincent III and is set for September 14th.
The prosecution has indicated it will request a sentence in excess of 12 years.
9/14/07 - Judge Recuses Himself
Sentencing for Cathy Heminghaus was postponed on Friday when Judge David Lee Vincent III recused himself from the case.
Judge Vincent said his predecessor, retired Judge Kenneth M. Weinstock, wrote a personal letter to Vincent asking the judge to not impose jail time for Heminghaus. Weinstock wrote the letter supporting Heminghaus because he is friends with the former teacher’s husband.
Judge Vincent said the letter “doesn’t look good,” and it called into question whether he could fairly sentence Heminghaus.
A new judge will be appointed to take over the case.
11/16/07 - Heminghaus Withdraws No Contest Plea
St. Louis County Circuit Judge Michael T. Jamison ruled this afternoon that Cathy Heminghaus could withdraw the plea she had entered on July 9 before Judge David Lee Vincent III.
After her plea, Heminghaus faced a sentence ranging from probation to life in prison, plus 150 years.
Judge Jamison set a trial date of December 13th for Heminghaus.
07/03/08 - Guilty Verdict on 7 of 25 Counts
A St. Louis County Circuit Court has found Cathy Heminghaus guilty on three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of a teacher having sex with a student and two counts of plying minors with alcohol.
Heminghaus was found not guilty on one count of first-degree statutory sodomy and on 17 other statutory sodomy counts.
The defense claimed that Heminghaus was forced to perform oral sex on one boy on one occassion and denied all other oral sex allegations. The defense contended that Heminghause feared that the teen who forced her into the classroom oral sex incident would harm her son or daughter so she did let him and his friends drive her car.
Heminghaus testified that the teens forced her to sit in a back seat that folded down into the trunk, put her coat on top of her, played music as loudly as they could and drove for hours around north St. Louis County. Heminghaus testified that this happened about 15 times. She also said that she would hide in the trunk of the car in order that she would not have to perform sex acts when the boys stopped the car to visit friends.
The four alleged victims, who were 13 to 16-years-old at the time, testified that Heminghaus was the originator of the plan and willingly performed sex acts on them at the school, in her car and at a park.
The jury will return to court today for the punishment phase of the trial.
07/04/08 - Punishment Phase
The jury which found Cathy Heminghaus guilty on seven counts deliberated her sentence on Thursday and returned its sentencing verdict after 90 minutes.
The jury’s decision calls for two years in prison on each of three counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of a teacher having sex with a student, plus fines for two counts of plying minors with alcohol.
Formal sentencing is set for August 20th at which time St. Louis County Circuit Judge Michael T. Jamison will announce his decision as to the amount of the fines and whether the prison terms will run consecutively, making for a 10 year prison sentence, or concurrently, making for a two year prison sentence or something in between.
Heminghaus remains under house arrest pending sentencing.
09/03/08 - Sentencing
Cathy Heminghaus, facing between and 2 and 10 years in prison, was today sentenced to six years.
Judge Michael Jamison also fined Heminghaus $1,000 on the alcohol-related counts.
References:
Former teacher gets 6 years for sex acts (09/03/08)
Ex-teacher gets 6 years for sex acts (09/03/08)
Jury recommends prison for teacher in sex case (07/04/08)
Ex-teacher convicted of sex acts on students (07/03/08)
Teacher testifies in her trial (07/02/08)
Daughter among witnesses for teacher accused of sex acts with students (07/01/08)
Special school district teacher withdraws plea (11/16/07)
Ex-teacher pleads no contest to sex charges (7/10/07)
No contest plea in teacher sex case (7/09/07)
Background:
Special School District Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Students
Ferguson teacher charged with sodomy
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Entries (RSS)
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I thought an IQ of 60 or under is the number used to claim a mental disability? Eitherway, if he was a student and she or he was a teacher, why weren’t charges pressed or an arrest made? There has to more to this than what you’re telling us.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
My son is also a victim of teacher sexually abusing him..The only difference between him and most cases is he was a special ed student who had just turned 18 (I tried to file a police report and I was told because he was 18 he was considered a consenting adult…Not mentioning the fact that my son’s IQ is 70
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July 6th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
maybe she is getting the female discount?