(01/29/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Curtis Harold Key, 38, a former language teacher at Haverford High School in Haverford, Pennsylvania has been initially charged with a first-degree misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors on allegations he had a sexual relationship with a then 16-year-old male student.
Key has been given 24 hours to turn himself in to authorities.
Key came to the attention of police after an initial investigation by school officials. School officials referred the alleged victim and his parents to police.
It is alleged that in early October that the student told Key he “had feelings” for him and according to the alleged victim, Key told him he had feelings for him also.
Allegedly the relationship began with Key and the boy exchanging Internet messages and expressing feelings and making arrangements to meet. Reportedly, the boy enrolled in a Chinese club moderated by Key in order to provide time for the pair to speak privately before and after club meetings.
It is further alleged that the relationship became physical on October 17th, when the pair kissed. It is further alleged that the boy told police that he and Key met at Key’s residence and engaged in various sexual activities.
The alleged relationship came to light when the student told a friend of it, the friend told another and a discussion of the matter was overheard by a teacher.
It is alleged that Key admitted the sexual relationship with the student to investigators and in a written statement reportedly said that he fell for the student against his better judgment.
It is alleged that Key’s written statement also says, “I know that I should not have been involved with the juvenile male but the attention he gave to me made me overlook the inappropriateness, naively.”
Reportedly, Key told authorities the pair had sexual contact only twice.
Police have confiscated Jey’s home computer and the school computer used by Key in order to conduct a forensic analysis of each. If computer crimes are discovered, police say additional charges may be filed.
Key was suspended by the school system when the initial investigation began. He subsequently resigned.
If convicted, Key would face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
01/30/09 – Case Update
Yesterday Curtis Key was arraigned on a charge of corruption of a minor, waived his preliminary hearing and was released after posting 10 percent of $50,000 bail.
Key’s bail was conditioned upon electronic home monitoring, as well as no contact with the student, the student’s family or any minors.
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i didn’t know Mr. Key personally but i have heard wonderful things. I know (Name Deleted by site moderator), the victim fairly well and i don’t think that either are bad people. the just made (Expletive deleted by site moderator) choices, that’s all.
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I have no doubt that in the past Mr. Key was a good teacher who inspired students. But once you start sleeping with one of your high school students, you’re from that point on a bad teacher.
And I cannot believe people are falling for this sympathy game he is playing where he is making it seem as though he made one mistake which he then regretted. He knew it was wrong the first time he kissed him. That is a mistake that could be argued he got caught up in the heat of the moment. But he let it continue and took it further. He had PLENTY of time to stop this from happening. Over a period of time, he continued to engage in something he knew was wrong. And he is 38 years old. That’s not a mistake. That’s manipulation.
And does anyone really think he actually regretted this at any point up until he got caught? Of course he regrets it now. He’s not sorry he did it…he’s sorry he got caught.
To Renee and Mom of a Survivor; Do not tar all offenders with the same brush if you don’t know them. Don’t assume that the victim’s family will see things from your point of view. Never throw the first stone.
Mr Key, what a tragic mistake, and what a tragic loss to all those pupils and parents you inspired.
I am a student currently at Haverford High School and I agree with Karen and Tom to an extent. I believe Mr. Key was a great teacher whom I learned a lot from. My sister and I both had him for french and both of us were active members in the French Club which he headed last year. I belive that neither she nor I would ever say he is untrustworthy let alone dangerous, because he really is not.
Also, the alleged “victim” in all this is not exactly innocent either and at the age of 17, it’s b*llsh*t to suggest that he isn’t mature enough to realize what the consiquences of the actions he took. Having seen him in school almost daily I dont think you can say that he has anything remotely like PTSD or even feelings of guilt for that matter. Thus, I have little sympathy for him.
Now I am not saying in any way that Mr. Key is innocent either. He made a very big mistake in this case and should face necessary consiquences as should anyone who makes a mistake. Frankly though, I think it’s absurd to suggest that he is in any way, some form of danger to society as people seem to be getting at, because he is not. I also do not think it’s appropriate for those who have never even met Mr. Key and the “victim” to write them off in such a stereotypical way. As Karen said, it’s not that black and white.
Even my mother, who is in fact a lawyer and also entrusted Mr. Key with my sister’s wellbeing on a trip to China (Tom was there too! Hi Tom!), believes that this is a case that cannot be brushed off in such a onesided way as it has been, and thinks it is completely unfair that the “victim” be put in such an innocently juvenille light.
Mr. Key is and will remain in my mind a great teacher and mentor. He will be missed at Haverford.
As a parent of a Haverford Middle School student, I hope that all teachers are there to protect our children as well as educate, not to have sex with them. I am sorry but a 16year old is not an adult and this teacher no matter how “nice” he is committed a crime and should be prosecuted. To all of his students, wait until you have children.
how can one possibly come out with a statement such as “he fell in love with the wrong person”….yea…no (****), hes almost 40 and bangin a 16 year old kid….however, i do have one question, was he pitching or catching?
love my (***)….thats about as wrong and as messed up as you can get.
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He made a mistake??? He followed his heart?????? Wake up people! The man is 38 years old. He was a professional who misused his profession. What if this man had a sexual relationship with your child? Would it be okay then? I don’t think so. He broke the law. Amen to the fact that he was able to be man enough to admit it and not drag the child through the humilitaion of the court system.
We do not want teachers who cannot follow the professional conduct rules of their state. My daugher was sexually abused by a “man” who was her mentor/teacher for seven years. He manipulated, decieved and abused his powers. The entire community loved this man and not to mention he was a family friend/coworker. Idiots are out there. I don’t care how nice they appear on the outside. You must watch and trust noone with your child. As I was, I am sure the parents of this young man are in a state of shock. It would be great if the community stood behind them and not blame their child for the actions of a grown man. Hold the right party responsible. A child is so easily manipulated into things. Just don’t be cruel to him. Be patient. Be kind. Be thoughtful.
May God be with your school district.
I knew Mr. Key as well, as a student at HHS and he was a great guy and I knew the “victim” (if you could even call him that) and no one was hurt from this and it’s ridiculous that Mr. Key is being punished this way. He was a great Latin teacher and a friendly guy. We at Haverford really do miss him.
My daughter was a student of Mr. Keys. At back to school night I was very impressed with his approach to the language and his dedication to his students. Mr. Keys taught French as well as Latin, he was in charge of several annual trips abroad with his students. I was thrilled with what I saw in him as an educator and how much she and her classmates respected him as a teacher.
I know that there are may things in life that tempt people to go beyond what they feel is “Right or Wrong”. I know that I may have crossed the line once or twice, and, I am sure that some of you who are reading this have also tipped the scales.
I often look back to my high school years at John Bartram High School. My best friend had a “relationship” with a new teacher who later became Principal at the school. After that he become Principal at a prestigious Main Line High School. He got away with what Mr. Keys will not.
What do I have to say to Mr. Keys… I can’t believe that you through away your job and your whole career for what you “had” with someone who “had feelings for you”. It’s so hard to get a teaching job these days.. You had it all.. (I’m just shaking my head.)
Haverford had to hire two teachers to replace Mr. Keys.
It’s a tragedy and a great loss to our school.
Tom, don’t be fooled into thinking that a teacher’s virtues excuse his grievous mistakes. To his credit, Mr. Key took full responsibility for what he did and admitted in plain and simple language that what he did was wrong. He knew it was wrong and he would want you to know that it was wrong.
Wow, i can’t believe you people put Curtis up here as a “bad bad teacher.” He was an absolutely amazing teacher and a great person. I wouldn’t be the person i am today without him, and it’s crazy that people are punishing him like this. He was one of the few teachers i met through my high school career who actually cared about his students. He was the only teacher i felt i could ever really talk to. Just because he fell in love with the wrong person, does not make him less of a person, he just let his heart lead him where are heads don’t believe is right. But knowing both the “victim” and the accused very well, i know that there is nothing wrong here.
He is an amazing person and a great friend, for god sakes even my mother liked him, even after all this, what’s that tell you!
I agree with Karen.
I am a student at Haverford High School. Mr. Key was the sponsor for Model UN, a club which I am actively involved in.
I’m not saying that I think of any of these actions as acceptable, or “right”….but I think somebody needs to point out that not everything is as black and white as it seems. Mr. Key was a fantastic teacher who dedicated more time than any other teacher I know, to helping and encouraging his students, all of his students.
What happened was wrong. But I KNOW with every fiber of my being, that Mr. Key is not a “bad bad guy.”
He followed his heart rather than his head, and made a bad choice, and it just happened to be on a much larger scale than what we’re normally faced with.
Are we all truly that sure of ourselves, that faced with a sudden decision we know that we’d choose society’s right, over such an overpowering emotion.
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