Bad Bad Teacher

11/01/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Kelsey Peterson, 25, a sixth-grade teacher and basketball coach at Lexington Middle School, in Lexington, Nebraska, is the subject of a nationwide search and is wanted for kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Peterson is accused of running off with Fernando Rodriguez, a 13-year-old male student. Peterson at the time of her disappearance was under investigation for having a sexual relationship with the boy.

Peterson was placed on administrative leave last week and the school contacted police to report that administrators had reason to believe that Peterson was having some sort of relationship with Rodriguez.

According to police, correspondence uncovered in an investigation shows the two have had a sexual relationship for some time.

Letters allegedly sent by Rodriguez while living at a home for at-risk boys in Alliance refers to teacher Kelsey Peterson as his “Baby Gurl” and says that their relationship is about more than sex. It is also alleged that correspondence written by Peterson and found on school computers supports the allegations against Peterson.

A warrant for Peterson’s arrest was reportedly issued on Monday.

Peterson who reportedly has an eight-year-old daughter and the boy are believed to be in a white 4-door 2006 Pontiac with Nebraska plates “18-K16″.

Upate 11/02/07:

Paul Schwarz of the Lexington Police Department in Nebraska said the white Pontiac owned by 25-year-old Kelsey Peterson crossed into Mexico around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Reportedly FBI officials in Omaha said that under standard procedure, authorities would work with FBI officials in Mexico as well as Mexican authorities.

11/03/07 – Kelsey Peterson Captured

Kelsey Peterson and the 13-year-old male student she is accused of kidnapping and taking to Mexico were captured by Mexican authorities Friday night.

Peterson and the boy were found in Mexicali, Mexico and were taken into custody by officials from the Baja California State Preventive Police Agency.

Peterson has been turned over to the FBI and has been returned to the United States.

Fernando Rodriguez, the 13-year-old student, has reportedly been turned over to family members in Mexico.

Peterson at the time of her disappearance and alleged flight from justice was under investigation for having a sexual relationship with the boy.

Peterson was placed on administrative leave last week and the school contacted police to report that administrators had reason to believe that Peterson was having some sort of relationship with Rodriguez.

According to police, correspondence uncovered in an investigation shows the two have had a sexual relationship for some time.

Letters allegedly sent by Rodriguez while living at a home for at-risk boys in Alliance refers to teacher Kelsey Peterson as his “Baby Gurl” and says that their relationship is about more than sex. It is also alleged that correspondence written by Peterson and found on school computers supports the allegations against Peterson.

A warrant for Peterson’s arrest was reportedly issued on Monday and allegedly Peterson took the boy and fled the area on Tuesday.

Peterson faces state charges of kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She now also faces federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines or a foreign border for sexual activity.

Update 11/05/07:

Kelsey Peterson is being held on federal charges at the Imperial County Jail in El Centro, California, and was expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge today.

Fernando Rodriguez, the 13-year-old boy Peterson is accused of having a sexual relationship with and kidnapping is reportedly an illegal immigrant while residing in the United States, and might not be able to return to the rural Nebraska town where he was an eighth-grader.

Authorities learned of the location of Peterson and the boy when he called family members asking for money.

Alfredo Arenas, the Baja California state police official who detained Peterson, said the pair had a mutual agreement to flee after stories surfaced that they were having sex surfaced.

At an initial appearance today in federal court in El Centro, California Kelsey Peterson said nothing as U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Lewis read charges that she crossed the border to have sex with a minor.

Lewis scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to ask if Peterson would agree to be sent to Nebraska to face charges.

11/07/07 – Court Hearing And Bail Denied

In a court hearing today Kelsey Peterson’s court-appointed attorney argued for $100,000 bail, but the request was denied on the basis that Peterson is a flight risk. Peterson has agreed to be transferred from California to Nebraska to face charges.

11/12/07 – Attorney wants proof of boy’s age

Kelsey Peterson’s lawyer says the woman was guilty of poor judgment and maybe nothing else. Peterson’s lawer James Martin Davis of Omaha says the boy may be older than 13 and he wants a birth certificate from Mexico to determine the victim’s true age.

Peterson has been moved from a federal facility in El Centro to one in San Diego and is expected to be returned to Nebraska in 7 to 21 days.

News reports indicate that the alleged victim, reportedly a 13-year-old, who was in the country illegally may be eligible to return to the United States under a new visa the government started granting to crime victims the week before he disappeared. The new visa would let the boy live legally in the United States for four years and eventually apply for permanent residency. It would also extend temporary residency to his parents and his unmarried siblings under 18.

11/13/07 – Peterson Fired

On Monday night the Lexington School Board voted 6-0 to terminate Kelsey Peterson’s contract.

11/15/07 – Boy Really Is 13

Officer Alfredo Arenas Moreno has provided a copy of the boy’s birth certificate to the associated press. A birth certificate which the officer says he obtained from the FBI and which shows the boy was born in January 1994.

11/28/07 – Peterson Back in Nebraska

The attorney for Kelsey Peterson says that Peterson has been returned to Nebraska and is being held in the Cass County Jail. James Martin Davis says he is not sure when Peterson will make a court appearance although media reports indicate that she will be arraigned tomorrow.

11/29/07 – Court Appearance

A tearful Kelsey Peterson was arraigned in federal court today on a charge of crossing a border to have sex with a minor.

Peterson entered a not guilty plea.

A psychological evaluation of Peterson has been ordered and the judge will review the results of that evaluation on December 10th.

1/31/08 – Boy To Return To U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security is giving the boy who fled to Mexico Kelsey Peterson a chance to temporarily return to the United States to live with his mother in Lexington, Nebraska.

04/18/08 – Trial Date Set

A federal judge has set a trial date of July 8 for Kelsey Peterson.

Peterson’s lawyer has been trying to cut a deal that would result in Peterson facing state rather than federal charges.

07/01/08 – Peterson To Plead Guilty

James Martin Davis, the attorney who represents Kelsey Peterson, says his client will plead guilty Wednesday to charges of having sex with a minor across state lines.

Peterson who was originally charged with taking a minor across the border for sex, a felony which carries a mandatory 10 year prison term will reportedly plead to a lesser charge, one for which her attorney expects could spend six to seven years in prison.

07/02/08 – Guilty Plea To Reduced Charge

Kelsey Peterson pleaded guilty today to a reduced charge of transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of sex.

As part of the plea deal Peterson will receive a sentence of at least 70 months but not more than 87 months in federal prison.

Peterson still faces state charges, which include kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault. Her lawyer is seeking to get the state charges dropped.

09/29/08 – Sentencing

This morning Kelsey Peterson was sentenced to to six years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after her release from prison.

Peterson will have to register as a sex offender.

09/30/08 – Peterson Says She Was ‘Addicted’ To 12 Year Old

Kelsey Peterson granted an exclusive interview to KETV Ohama, Nebraska and in that interview she tells why she was “addicted” to the 12-year-old boy.

Seek the link below for the full report.

10/08/08 – Appearance In State Court

Today Kelsey Peterson made an appearance in Dawson County Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, felony child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Peterson’s bond on the state charges was set at $500,000 however since she is in custody on her federal conviction she will not be released on bond.

A preliminary hearing on the state charges is set for October 20.

11/03/08 – Kidnapping Charge Dropped

Kelsey Peterson appeared in Dawson County Court today and waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

The state has dropped the kidnapping charge, which could have brought a sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Peterson’s case was bound over to District Court and her attorney expressed hope that a plea deal with a state sentence concurrent with Peterson’s federal sentence could be worked out on the state charges of sexual assault of a child, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

11/21/08 – Court Appearance

Kelsey Peterson has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to state charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child, felony child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Peterson is currently serving a 6-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges.

11/25/08 – Peterson Says Run To Mexico Was Boy’s Idea

In interview with The Kearney Hub Kelsey Peterson says that the trip to Mexico was the boy’s idea.

Peterson says that he suggested going to Mexico after receiving a call from a police officer wanting to talk with him about his relationship with the teacher.

Peterson was quoted as saying, “In 20 minutes we went from making that decision to in the car leaving”.

Peterson is currently in the Dawson County Jail awaiting trial on state charges with the trial currently set for January 13th.

01/05/09 – Plea Deal On State Charges

In a plea deal with prosecutors Kelsey Peterson has pleaded guilty to two counts of felony sexual assault of a minor Monday in Dawson County District Court.

In exchange prosecutors will drop charges of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor and felony child abuse.

Peterson is already serving a 6-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges is facing up to 50 years in prison on each of the state charges.

Peterson’s sentencing is set for March 6.

02/03/09 – Teacher’s License Revoked

The Nebraska State Board of Education has revoked the teaching license of Kelsey Peterson.

Nebraska Education Department spokeswoman Betty VanDeventer says the board voted 7-0 Tuesday to permanently revoke Kelsey Peterson’s license. One board member was absent from the meeting.

03/31/09 – Sentencing On State Charges Delayed

Kelsey Peterson’s sentencing on two counts of first-degree sexual assault has been delayed until April 23rd.

The delay is reportedly to give probation officials time to complete Peterson’s sex-offender evaluation.

04/23/09 – Sentencing

Kelsey Peterson has been sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison as a result of her January guilty plea to two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor.

This sentence is to be served simultaneously with a six-year federal prison sentence she’s already serving for transporting a minor across state lines to have sex.

References:

Peterson sentenced on state charges (04/23/09)

Sentencing delayed for convicted ex-Neb. teacher (03/31/09)

Neb. board revokes convicted teacher’s license (02/03/09)

Ex-teacher pleads guilty to state sex assault charges (01/05/09)

Ex-Neb. teacher who fled with boy pleads guilty (01/05/09)

Ex-teacher says Mexico was boy’s idea (11/25/08)

Ex-teacher who fled with boy back in Neb. court (11/21/08)

Kidnapping charge dropped against Peterson (11/03/08)

Ex-Neb. teacher in state court on student sex case (10/08/08)

Exclusive: Kelsey Peterson Speaks Out On Love Affair (09/30/08)

Ex-Neb. teacher gets 6 years in student sex case (09/29/08)

Ex-Neb. teacher gets 6 years in student sex case (09/29/08)

Former teacher who fled to Mexico with student sentenced today (09/29/08)

Former Lex teacher pleads guilty in minor sex case (07/02/08)

Lawyer: Lexington teacher to plead guilty (07/01/08)

Runaway Teacher Will Plead Guilty (07/01/08)

Federal judge sets trial for former teacher (04/18/08)

U.S. grants temporary parole to boy who fled with teacher (1/31/08)

New passport verifies age of boy who fled with teacher to Mexico (1/16/08)

Tears Punctuate Not Guilty Plea (11/29/07)

Runaway Teacher Pleads Not Guilty (11/29/07)

Lexington teacher pleads not guilty to federal charges (11/29/07)

Teacher who fled to Mexico to be arraigned in federal court (11/28/07)

Peterson in Nebraska (11/28/07)

MEXICAN POLICE SAY LEXINGTON BOY IS 13 (11/15/07)

Birth certificate shows boy in teacher-sex case is 13 (11/15/07)

Teacher Who Fled With Student Fired (11/13/07)

Attorney wants proof of boy’s age in teacher-student sex case (11/12/07)

Mexican Relishes Hunt for US Fugitives (11/11/07)

No Bail For Nebraska Teacher Accused Of Taking Boy (11/07/07)

Boy: Friendship With Teacher Led to Sex (11/07/07)

Boy describes journey to Mexico with former teacher (11/07/07)

Reaction: from ‘real shame’ to ‘everybody makes mistakes’ (11/06/07)

Lexington Teacher May Take Weeks to Appear in Nebraska Court (11/06/07)

Teacher accused of fleeing to Mexico with boy, appears in court (11/05/07)

Teacher Nabbed in Mexico With 13-Year-Old Student Faces Court Hearing
(11/05/07)
Teen with family in Mexico, teacher faces federal court hearing Monday (11/04/07)

FBI Agents Find Nebraska Teacher, Student In Mexico (11/03/07)

Teacher Arrested in Mexico, Boy Released (11/03/07)

Teacher, Student Arrested in Mexico (11/03/07)

Police: Boy, Teacher Entered Mexico Tuesday (11/02/07)

Teacher, Student May Have Fled to Mexico (11/02/07)

Cops search for boy, 13, teacher in apparent affair (11/01/07)

Teacher and her 13-year-old student on the run (11/01/07)

Search Continues For Teacher And Teen (11/01/07)

Police Searching for Teacher and Boy (11/01/07)

Police search for teacher who ran off with student (11/01/07)

Female Teacher, 13-Year-Old Student Missing (11/01/07)

Who Is Kelsey Peterson? (11/01/07)

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm and is filed under California, FE-MV, Hall of Shame, High Profile Cases, ME-CP, Middle Schools, Nebraska. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.