(09/09/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Kari Atkinson, 28, a physical education teacher at Sandcreek Middle School in Idaho Falls, Idaho has reportedly been arrested on allegations of a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old male student.
Reportedly, Atkinson faces five counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 16.
Atkinson made an initial court appearance today and was ordered by Judge Linda Cook to stay away from children except for her own.
Atkinson came to the attention of authorities by way of an anonymous tip.
Reportedly, Atkinson is on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
Atkinson has a preliminary hearing set for September 16th.
10/14/09 – Guilty Plea
Kari Atkinson has reportedly pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd conduct with a minor.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts against Atkinson.
The judge ordered Atkinson not to have any contact with the victim and to undergo a psychological evaluation.
Atkinson faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Sentencing is set for December 17th. .
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People ask why this behavior by teachers is more prevalent now than in the past. Easy, it is the logical result of our society’s acceptance of anything goes. She’s 28 and has been told her entire life by society that sex outsaide of marriage is ok, that sex by teens is expected, and she probably started having sex herself by 16 at the latest. So she doesn’t feel a moral prohibition against a 14 year old boy having sex.
That leaves the ethical issue of sex with a subordinate which is the heart of the idea of “forced by pressure or reward or fear of refusal.” This has been winked at for so long it is funny. When this teacher was 17, it was celebrated, laughed at, and excused when a 52 year old man had sex with a 20 year old interning at his work place. “It was just sex” was the cry. Well, the difference in power (and in admiration and awe) between a president and an intern is much greater than that between a teacher and a student. I’m not excusing her. She was wrong. But I understand why her moral compass is broken. {yes I understand that a 20 yo is a legal adult so there was no statutory rape] The ethics are the same.
All that is left is the law, and American law is widely viwed as being unrelated to justice or morality. Not always — but all too often, the guilty get off because of technicalities while the innocent are severely sentenced because prosocutors are setting an example. This woman is a product of a “feel good” society.
justsayno: My complaint has been all along that the law doesn’t deal fairly with all offenders. Simple enough? The scumbag who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart won’t get the same punishment in proportion to what Kari Atkinson will get. Clear? Or do I need to draw you a picture?
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What does her religion have to do with this
Over but the sentencing
@ Terry J
I don’t care if you’re budging or not, although you’re not really clear on what it is your not budging about. I think you’ve changed the subject three times (but I’m not bothering to scroll back to count).
And, sorry you don’t get the walk and chew gum analogy. It’s simple really: are there enough people in our society such that we can do more than one thing at a time? I say yes. You seem to be saying no. I’m pretty sure I’m right.
Partial birth abortion, capital punishment, and media over reaction have nothing to do with this case. Maybe you’d be more productive posting on a platform that actually deals with those topics.
To Justsayno: I don’t know what in blazes that walking and chewing gum has to do with the price of tea in China, but any idiot knows that our legal system’s right hand doesn’t know what its left hand is doing. Look at the unfairness with our capital punishment program! Look at it your way OK? I’m not budging!
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@TerryJ
So what are you saying? Are you saying we need to nationally shut down our entire judicial system pending a change in partial birth abortion law? And are you saying that every man, woman, and child needs to be focused on this until it’s resolved to your satisfaction? Do I still have to go to work in the mean time?
Also, should we be allowed to walk and chew gum at the same time? If not, which should we do first: walk or chew gum? The more I think about it, the more furiouser I’m getting. I NEED TO KNOW! Walk? Chew Gum?? Work??? Partial birth abortion law???? Prosecute Atkinson???? It’s just too much to handle…
To “not a Lewd Teacher”: I’m just saying that it’s an outrageous situation that our judicial and law enforcement people go after her with such force when partial birth abortions are legal. It’s not fair to her at all when this ludicrous, evil incongruity exists! There needs to be a butt-kicking party! The whole rotten busines makes me furious!
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Terry J, how can you defend this? Are you her union rep or mother? She didn’t have to have sex with a middle school kid. If she wanted to cheat on her husband, why didn’t she find an adult?
As for the Mormon and excommunication thing, they pick and choose who to deal with.
Gosh, just before Christmas she will be getting her sentence
2 lewd counts, whats a sentence for that?
What is the minimun penalty
The media has just flat out kicked this one, up and down.
Yea, the media has been all over this one.
Why was she not sentenced when the plea went down