Paul Knutson
Posted by Webmaster in Arizona, Arkansas, Hall of Shame, High Profile Cases, High Schools, ME-FV, Science Teachers
(9/01/07 – Initial BBT Report)
Paul Milton Knutson, 58, a science teacher at Rogers High School, in Rogers, Arkansas was arrested Friday on sex and drug charges filed in Scottsdale, Arizona for crimes that allegedly occurred between 1983 and 1985.
Little Flock, AR police arrested Knutson at his home in North Dixieland. Knutson was being held in the Benton County Jail awaiting an extradition hearing.
A report in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette quoted Little Flock police Lt. Jesse Martinez as saying, “He didn’t seem surprised at all”, regarding Knutson’s reaction to his arrest.
In a subsequent report in the Fort Smith Times Record the same Little Flock police Lt, Jesse Martinez, is quoted as saying, “He was shocked we were there”.
Knutson is being charged in Scottsdale, AZ with five felony charges, including sexual contact with a minor, furnishing obscene or harmful items to minors, possession and sale of dangerous drugs, possession and sale of marijuana and possession and sale of narcotics.
Reportedly Knutson can still be prosecuted under Arizona law, even for crimes allegedly committed over 20 years ago.
Scottsdale Police Department spokesman Shawn Sanders was quoted in media reports as saying, “The statute of limitations does not apply when it’s a dangerous crime against kids dealing with child molestation”.
Reportedly the school administration in Rogers, AR has never had any complaints regarding Knutson, who has reportedly taught there for many years and the local police indicate that Knutson has never been the subject of any investigation by their department.
Webmaster’s note: On 9/04/07 we added a subsequent report which covers much of what was reported last week with one big exception. That exception is a quote attributed to Little Flock, AR Police Lt. Jesse Martinez. The two quotes attributed to Lt. Martinez by the two publications appear totally at-odds one with the other. We have no explanation for this discrepancy, but are attempting to determine which of the two quotes is correct.
Update 9/05/07:
Paul M. Knutson was released from the Benton County Jail on $25,000 bail on Sunday.
He still faces extradition to Arizona and is scheduled to be in court in Little Flock, Arkansas on October 11th.
A Scottsdale Unified School District spokesperson has confirmed that Knutson worked there between 1973 and 1984.
Update: 9/05/07:
According to news media reports, court documents in Scottsdale, Arizona indicate that multiple persons were aware of the alleged sexual relationship between Paul M. Knutson and a female student, during the 1983 to 1985 time frame. Reportedly the girl was 16 – 17 years old throughout the relationship and indicates that she and Knutson had sex more than 80 times during the relationship.
Reportedly the woman contacted Scottsdale Police in February 2006 because she had recently entered therapy and counseling for drug addiction. In addition to the sexual allegations the woman also told police that Knutson gave her cocaine and marijuana.
Reportedly, Knutson’s ex-wife and at least one other individual were aware of the alleged relationship and Knutson’s ex-wife indicates that she confronted him over the matter.
Another individual whose identity was redacted from the court documents allegedly says that Knutson worked for him part time and that Knutson had told him many details of the relationship as well as drug use.
Update 9/18/07:
The Rogers School Board approved without comment the leave of absence request of Paul Knutson. Knutson will be on one-year unpaid leave of absence from his job at Rogers High School while he resolves Arizona criminal charges.
11/08/07 – Knutson In Arizona, Freed On Bond
Paul Milton Knutson has reportedly traveled to Arizona, posted a $150,000 bond and entered a not guilty plea.
Knutson is facing 13 felony charges, including drug charges and allegations of having consensual sex with a girl who was a student at Chaparral High School while Knutson taught there.
Reportedly the alleged victim told Scottsdale, Arizona detectives in February 2006 that the sex occurred between 1983 and 1985. At the time she would have been 16 and 17 years old. The alleged victim says that she had sex with Knutson more than 80 times while she was his student and that Knutson gave her cocaine and marijuana.
Knutson is due back in court on December 13th.
05/09/08 – Guilty Plea
Paul Knutson pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of sexual conduct with a 16-year-old student more than 20 years ago.
Knutson is expected to be sentenced June 20th.
06/20/08 – Sentencing
Paul Knutson, was once a finalist for National Teacher of the Year, will spend only two months in jail for having sex with a student nearly 25 years ago.
He will however be on probation for the rest of his life .
The judge said he would send Knutson to prison for three years if the crimes were committed in the present. The judge cited Knutson’s “exemplary life” since the crimes were committed as justification for giving Knutson the greatly reduced sentence.
The victim who is suing Knutson and the Scottsdale Unified School District served him papers in court Friday.
Editorial/Opinion:
In light of the sweetheart sentence the judge handed Knutson one is left to wonder if the judge might not invite Knutson over for dinner, once his two months in jail is over – if not before.
Sweetheart sentences for predatory sex offenders do nothing to deter crime but instead encourage more crime and victimization, particularly when the judge justifies the sweetheart sentence by citing the predator’s “exemplary life” since their predatory acts.
Justice was not served in this case, it was instead slighted by a judge who apparently believes that even sexual predators are “good guys”.
About 25 years ago Paul Knutson victimized a teenage girl, today Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Paul McMurdie in his sentencing decision said “it was no big deal”…
09/26/08 – Board Revokes Teacher’s License
The Arizona Board of Education has unanimously voted to revoke the teaching certification of Paul Knutson.
12/29/08 – Arkansas Board Revokes Teacher’s License
The Arkansas State Board of Education at its meeting Monday voted to permanently revoke Paul Milton Knutson’s license, according to education department spokeswoman Julie Johnson Thompson.
Neither Knutson nor a representative attended Monday’s board hearing in Little Rock.
References:
State Board Revokes Knutson’s Teaching License (12/29/08)
Teacher’s license revoked after sex conviction (09/25/08)
Former teacher sentenced for student sex (06/20/08)
Former Chaparral teacher pleads guilty (05/09/08)
Ex- teacher pleads guilty to sex with minor (05/09/08)
Knutson Enters Not Guilty Plea In Arizona (11/08/07)
Rogers School Board Approves Unpaid Leave For Teacher (9/18/07)
ROGERS : Counseling a backdrop to woman’s allegations (9/06/07)
Report: Knutson Told Others Of Sex With Student (9/05/07)
Teacher accused in student assault out on bail (9/05/07)
Teacher Faces Sex Charges (9/04/07)
ROGERS : Teacher, 58, arrested on sex, drug charges (9/01/07)
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All the talk of his “one” mistake makes me sick. His so-called “integrity” makes me sick. This was not a behavioral aberration 25 years ago; this was the one time he got caught! I was (since disowned) his sister and knew him very well. He learned from my father and mother and perpetrated on me and my younger brother the whole time we were growing up. He was extremely abusive to his first wife; he was verbally and emotionally abusive to my younger sister which still continues to this day. He does it because he can get away with it. This man was/is/will always be a predator – the only reason more people don’t recognize it is because he is so good at manipulation. Losing his license was the very least! that should have happened to him.
Another thing – I would have no problem with him teaching my daughter. He was an excellent teacher. He made a mistake 25 years ago. I feel bad for him and am saddened to think he won’t be teaching young minds and affecting their lives like he did mine. He was a positive male role model for me. For anyone to say anything negative about him for something he did with a girl that was 16 years old and consenting, over 25 years ago – and not know the person he became is just sad. I feel for him, and hope he can somewhat recover from the penalty of his mistakes.
Mr. K was an awesome teacher. He inspired me and helped me to love science. He was wrong and maybe in a bad spot in his life, but I’m am 100% sure that he is a man of integrity and greatness. I still think about how great of a teacher he was when he taught me in HS, and that was over 10 years ago. I’m very fond of Mr. K, and hate that he lost his teaching license.
Sweet Jesus, that is NOT what I said. I said that your supposition was RIDICULOUS. The laws of Arkansas have ZERO baring on what happens in Arizona – JUST LIKE the laws of Mexico have no baring on the laws of the U.S.
That is what I said……………it’s a failure in the system that depending on what STATE in the US you’re in you may be a child or adult. Read my first post. You just agreed with me. There should be a federal age set. Thanks