(1/24/08 - Initial BBT Report)
Larry Dean Scheer, 58, the band director at Haskell High School, in Haskell, Oklahoma has been arrested and charged with two counts of forcible sodomy against a 17-year-old female student.
It is alleged that Scheer had two sexual encounters with the girl on school grounds, both incidents are alleged to have occurred inside the band room at the school.
In the first alleged assault the girl told investigators that Scheer took off her shirt and bra, pulled down his own pants, and begged her to perform a sex act. The girl says that when she refused to perform oral sex upon him that Sheer forced her to do so.
The second assault is alleged to have occurred two weeks later and in that incident the girls told investigators that Scheer locked the door, took off her clothing and performed a sex act upon her.
Scheer came to the attention of authorities when the girl’s mother discovered “sexual voice mails” on her daughter’s cell phone and called police.
Scheer who has taught at the school for five years was suspended last week. The school board is set to consider the Superintendent’s recommendation to fire Scheer tomorrow.
Scheer is free on bond and his attorney maintains his innocence.
08/05/08 - Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Larry Scheer pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of forcible sodomy.
Scheer was sentenced to a term of 20 years suspended on each count with each term to run concurrent with the other.
Reportedly Scheer will have to register as a sex offender.
According to the Muskogee Phoenix report, Scheer’s attorney say that Scheer is going to turn in his teaching certificate and start a new career as a truck driver.
The Webmaster’s Opinion
I see Mr. Scheer’s extremely lenient sentence as the equivalent of the “female discount” that we see in so many cases of female teacher’s sexually abusing students.
Since the term “female discount” is inappropriate for this “sweetheart plea deal” a new term is needed to denote the male equivalent of the “female discount” and “good ol’ boy discount” comes to mind.
Here we have a case where the defendant admitted that he FORCED a minor to perform oral sex upon him, not once but twice and yet he walks away with no jail or prison time what-so-ever.
If that is not a “good ol’ boy discount” on a guilty plea, then nothing can be.
Granted, Scheer’s attorney is quoted as saying, “The girl did not want to testify.” however that is the norm in the vast majority of cases alleging the sexual abuse of a minor by a school employee.
So what makes this case so different?
We can only speculate, but the fact remains that at this point it looks like Larry Scheer simply received the “good ol’ boy discount” and walked away a free man, possibly to prey on other kids.
And that is very disheartening, in that rather than deterring crime, this sweetheart deal encourages more victimization of kids….
References:
Ex-band teacher pleads guilty (08/05/08)
Band director charged (1/24/08)
School Band Director Charged (1/24/08)
Band director charged with sex crimes (1/24/08)
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February 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 am
She was also the girl who accused the police officer in Haskell of rape back in 2006.She was 15 at the time and they found evidence of a relationship between the 2 but but no one really thought she was forced.
Typically comments such as this are simply deleted as they have zero bearing on the case at hand owing to the fact that any sexual activity between a school system employee and a student of that school system is a criminal offense on the part of the school employee. This is clearly the case under current Oklahoma law. Likewise the age of consent in Oklahoma is 16-years-old. Therefore any sexual activity between a 15-year-old and an adult is a criminal offense on the part of adult. And in both instances a claimed “lack of force” is not a defense at trial. This is true even if the victim solicits/initiates the sexual activity. - site admin
January 31st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
He was my band director also.He was the best band director that our school had seen in years.I also don’t believe it was rape because I don’t believe he would throw everything that we worked for away like that.I think that the girl is just a liar.She got caught up in what she was doing and had to tell her mom something to keep herself out of trouble.I think that is exactly what happened!
January 30th, 2008 at 1:46 am
If you want to know the truth this is not the first time she has done this. She has 3 others with prior convictions with in the last5 1/2 years besides this one. I have read on fox23.com alot about this girl and I’m sorry to say but I don’t believed this happen. She has put her own family members away for this same thing and succeeded with 2 thers and if she gets Mr.sheer it will be a grand total of 4 in this many years.All I can say she is a little freakie
January 25th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Mr. Scheer was my band teacher also. She tudored my on the flute. She was a little to hiper for me and the other flute in my grade. He was a tough and strict but good band teacher. There were rumors around the school about them but NObody believed them to be true. Ask your self the question ** why would he give all the trophies and all the good respect for that girl**. If you have the right answer in your mind than you know he is innocent. and the rule is YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTAIL PROVEN GUILTY…. So what do say ask any in our band she was not a looker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:33 am
He was my band teacher… he seemed like a good one. the band knew that there was something goin on between them. The band and most of the town thnk that he didnt rape her, we think its consensual. Because on the first act she said that he made her perform oral sex on him but imeen come on the girl has teeth!She would have bit the little thing off, unless he had a gun to her head and i doubt she would have that detail out.