(02/13/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Jason Berman, 34, a social studies teacher at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, New York has been arrested and charged on allegations of having sex with a 15-year-old boy.
Reportedly Berman has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child and possession of sexual performance of a child. The latter charge owing to Suffolk computer crime detectives allegedly finding child pornography on Berman’s home computer during their investigation.
Police say that the alleged victim is not a student in the district where Berman works and that Berman and the boy met via a chat room on a gay mens’ web site.
It is alleged that Berman picked up the teen from his home on January 31st and took him to Berman’s home. It is further alleged that the two had sex while at Berman’s home.
Berman came to the attention of police when the boy told a high school counselor about the encounter and police were notified.
02/14/09 – Court Appearance
Today, Jason Berman made an initial court appearance for arraignment and pleaded not guilty to charges arising from allegations that he had sex with a 15-year-old boy he met in an online chat room.
Bail for Berman was set in the amount of $35,000 cash or $70,000 bond and he was released Saturday afternoon.
Entries (RSS)
November 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
In response to formerbermanstudent, how did you find out the police did not have a warrant, which is what I think you meant? Also, if the accuser said he was 18 but is actually younger, then Berman did in fact have an inappropriate encounter with a minor. The law does not protect someone having sex with a minor because the minor says he/she is older. Based on what you are saying, it sounds like the police had a valid case but blew it because they failed to obtain a search warrant. Therefore, the case was dropped on a legal technicality, not because Berman was found innocent. I knew Jason as a colleague and I can attest to his talent as a teacher, however, there is a fine line between being a friendly teacher and being a friend. The latter is inappropriate and unprofessional. It is unfortunate and hopefully he has and will continue to reflect on his professionalism.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Jason Berman was not charged with this crime. The charges were dropped because the police did not have a permit to search his apartment. The evidence they found is now invalid. Also the accuser admitted to pretending to be 18 years of age. Unfortunately, because of this stupid kid, a man with a talent for teaching lost his jobs as a teacher, club advisor and coach. I hope it was worth it to him and he got the attention he wanted. It is a shame jason probably needs to go to another state to teach. He does not need to register as a sex offender but the prestigious, elitist and rich Half Hollow Hills community would never allow him back.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
listen i had him as a teacher,you people just need to back off…i’m not defending him by any means, i just know that it was tough for everyone and the students were effected and frankly no one knows what really happened, so just back off.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
What is happening with this case?? Anyone know??
July 5th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
though its been 6 months since this happen… i just found out about it… when i decided to look for him on FB. a whole year.. we went out last year and well i do remember his bizarre behaviors and though he was a great person cuz i can prove it. this doesn’t come to a surprise given that he told me he had done with underage kids in the past. i just think it was foolish of him to had underestimated this kid’s lie about his age. and i was gonna ask him if he wanted to go out with me to the Davids Matthew Band concert at jones beach… thats his fav band.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
has anyone else come forward?
June 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Does anyone know what happened with the June 14th court date?