James Toland
Posted by: Webmaster in Band/Music, California, Charges Dismissed, High Schools, ME-MV
(3/05/08 - Initial BBT Report)
James Toland, 63, a music teacher who worked at high schools in Contra Costa County, California has been accused of molesting three male students.
Two of the alleged victims were 15-years-old, one was 16-years-old.
Two were allegedly molested in January 2007. The third alleges that he was molested in the summer of 2007.
One of the alleged victims told investigators that Toland molested him more than 20 times.
Authorities currently believe that all of the alleged molestations occurred at Toland’s residence and during private lessons.
Toland has been formerly charged and arraigned without actually being taken into custody.
Authorities say that Toland has worked at the following schools Campolindo High School in Moraga, Acalanes High School in Lafayette and Miramonte High School in Orinda.
3/25/08 - All Charges Dismissed
Yesterday James Toland appeared for a preliminary hearing.
Prior to the start of that hearing attorneys for James Toland made a motion to throw out evidence obtained under a warrant to search Toland’s residence and computers.
The judge granted that motion saying that an investigator in the case had shown a “reckless disregard for the truth” in that the affidavit for the search warrant included false information and omitted other relevant facts.
References:
Molestation case against music teacher dropped (3/24/08)
Prosecutors drop molestation charges against Lafayette music teacher (3/24/08)
E. Bay Music Teacher Accused Of Molesting Students (3/04/08)
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Entries (RSS)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
toland is a psycho
don’t let him manipulate and hurt these children
May 7th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
seriously we need to support these kids they wouldn’t lie about something like this
May 7th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
you are obviously not very close freinds with the “victims” if you post douche comments about them on this page
May 6th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
as a student of mr toland, AND very close friend of the 3 “victims” these accusations are ridiculous. there was no marijuana for one thing. secondly, yes, toland does some weird posture placement things, and im sure that someone may feel uncomfortable by them. but i can assure you that there is no bad intent whatsoever. third of all only one of the kids brought up the idea of molestation. the other 2 were dragged into it because the one gave them their names and the police came to their houses. mr toland has turned many kids who like to sing, into adults that sing for a living. i personally have had lessons with mr toland and have worked for him on quite a few occasions. campolindo choir is dying without him. has his reputation been destroyed? yes. but there are still people like me who know that these misconceptions are ridiculous, and even take lessons from him NOW.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
we didn’t shatter his life
he shattered ours
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
We trusted you
you took advantage of us when we thought we were your friends
and now you are lying
you are lying and making this hell
why would kids lie about something that could get them called “fag” or “homo” in such a homophobic community
i know that all these charges are true
i saw the marijuana
and i know
all u “mature” adults should think for two seconds and wonder
first of all you are just wrong
second of all you are hurting innocent kids who have already gone through enough so please stop being such close minded people
THank you
~
April 28th, 2008 at 1:46 am
I have known Jim Toland for over 12 yrs. I am a very successful professional singer who has studied with Jim and consider him to be a close friend. To hear of these allegations is shocking, absolutely ludicrous and hurts my heart. For those of you who might want to take the time to actually research what is involved with good singing and proper technique, there is a degree of touching involved. It involves touching the lower back near the “buttock” area, your diaphragm, your neck, areas of your body that someone may not touch on a normal day to day basis. However with singing it is indeed part of the process. Never in my many years of study with Jim did I ever feel he was touching me inappropriately.
A single accusation based on a falsehood, by anyone these days can ruin a person’s life. It is sad that people do not take this into consideration when trying to save their own hides or doing so for personal gain. We live in a world where people often do not take responsibility for their actions and suffer the consequences of their wrong doings.
I stayed with Jim one summer for 3 months and witnessed countless students coming and going from his home with smiles on their faces enjoying the passion that Jim shared with them about singing, making music and the structure of the human voice and how it works.
I am sure Jim in his current state of health and limited mobility found it very easy to over power a young man of 16 years old. The fact that I had to come to a site named, Bad Bad Teacher, to read this sickens me. Not because the site exists, but because Jim is on it. It seems that most posts above have been very open minded or supportive to Jim. I do hope that all facts come out in this. Can the damage be repaired? I doubt it. Maybe the 3 young men who fabricated this story will one day step forward and own up to irreparable damage they have caused to someone’s life.