(11/07/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Raymond Ferenci, 52, band director at Tulare Western High School in Tulare, California has been arrested on federal child pornography charges.
Ferenci was arrested at his home on Thursday following a six month investigation.
Ferenci came to the attention of authorities in May when police began investigating allegations that Ferenci had been sending text messages of a sexual nature to three female students.
Reportedly Ferenci allowed police seeking evidence of the alleged improper text messages to search two personal computers in his home.
During the course of examining Ferenci’s computers police allegedly discovered 200 images and videos of child pornography. Investigators indicate that the discovery included pictures of pre-teen females being sexually exploited, children as young as four, and teenaged girls ages 14 to 16.
In addition to the alleged child pornography, investigators say that on Ferenci’s hard drive they photos of some of his female students in bathing suits.
Ferenci allegedly admitted preferring pornographic images of girls 14 to 16, because they were the same age as the students he was sexually text-messaging.
Ferenci who has been the band director at Tulare Western High School for the past 19 years has been on paid administrative leave since May.
Following his arrest Ferenci was being held in the Fresno County Jail without bail. He will likely appear for arraignment in federal court this afternoon.
11/22/08 – Indictment and Court Appearance
On Thursday, Raymond Ferenci was formally indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of possession and receiving child pornography.
Ferenci pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession and receiving child pornography at an appearance in federal court in Fresno Friday.
Earlier this week, the Tulare Joint Union High School District cut off Ferenci’s salary, placing him on unpaid administrative leave.
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Ferenci was an amazing band director, teacher and musician. You can not say that the merit of his work is gone because he happens to be an evil pervert. We still walk down the wedding isle to Wagner and a more evil, perverse piece of s*** can’t be found. It has devastated Ferenci’s current and former students that he is guilty of such atrocious acts. I think that above all else it is important for us to remember them. We can still admire the man we thought he was – after all, we only knew who we THOUGHT he was, never who he really was. We admire many people whom we know little about because we really admire who we think they are. We think that Jane Goodall is a great person, if she turned out to be an evil, disgusting person, we wouldn’t stop giving her credit for the good she has done, nor would we cease to admire that aspect of her. There is nothing wrong with admiring Ferenci for all he has taught us, but I think we all know we should not strive to be like the evil perverse Ferenci – the one we never knew until now.
Again webmaster, shouldn’t it say formally charged, not formerly?
Webmaster’s reply: Yes, it should. And this is the second time in the last few days that this same mistake has slipped through. Good catch on your part, bad proofreading on ours…
For those of you who defend a grown man soliciting young girls for adult things, you make me sick. God says to obey all of the lands laws and this is one of those laws. Don’t do adult things with young children. I was a student of his and I am just as shocked, but i know that he tried this over ten years ago with a student and good friend of mine. Using God as a reason to look the other way is disgusting. I’m sure they said David Koresh was a great man and look where that got them. Men with normal lives and normal families do this all the time.
Ray Ferenci is not a bad bad teacher, he is a terrific teacher that will always be apart of me because he has taugh me so many things! By far had the biggest impact in my life! “The sun always shines on the Mustang band and colorguard.” This I will alway know!
Ferenci admitted to searching for, downloading, and sharing child pornography with children as young as 4 years old….and he stated he knew it was illegal to do so.
The quality of his (former) band instruction is no longer of merit. The man is a mentally disturbed individual….and anyone that attempts to justify his proclivity towards child pornography may also be in need of an investigation.
LOL!! are you serious “mom of one of the students”?!? you say ferenci is a “sick man”?? now tell me what you think about your daughter who obviously had no problem replying to the messages, it takes two to tango miss. yea he may have sent mesages but he also go replys to his messsages, think before you speak. now you should reconsider sounding so Proud to be this girls mother!
I am sorry I disagree with anyone who put this man down… My husband was one of his students for four years and yah, I am sure the man has made mistakes.. God knows we all have. But he has done nothing but put blood sweat and tears out to make the band what it is today. I know what it to be a teenager and spread dumb rumors about a teacher becuz they gave me a bad grade or whatever… but why would this man comprimise his career and family over something like this… Anyone who knows this teacher would strongly disagree. Remember Judge and thou shall be judged… If he did wrong that is for God to decide not us…
God is to be a judge of all of our actions as human beings. There isn’t a single person in this world that hasn’t done something shameful, or that some define as ’sick’. But most of us are lucky enough to escape judgement of the public in mass numbers. Mr. Raymond Ferenci is not a sick man. He is a man in need of prayer and understanding. He needs support, and love. He has a family and we all want to protect our family and reputation at all costs. Imagine that no longer in your control, and the guilt and shame that would follow. All human beings have felt guilt and shame. He may have made mistakes- like all of us, and he has truthfully come forth which is admirable. He did nothing until proven guilty, and there are no charges that he ever laid a hand on any student. I believe that above all love, understanding, and praying for one another should come before all else. I am choosing to pray for this family that are in great pain.
I can let you know that I know for a FACT this man is not a sick man. Just remember this man has a family. Normal loving supporting family. We as humans ALL make mistakes. Let God be our judge. What this article doesnt mention, he was home the next day. He’s not a threat to society.
This was posted in the Tulare/ Visalia newspaper the next day.
“After coming to Tulare Western High School 20 years ago, Raymond Ferenci took the school’s band from near anonymity to a place of statewide respect.
Today, hundreds of awards line the upper wall of the school’s band room. There’s also a banner with a quote from Ferenci: “The sun always shines on the Mustang band and colorguard.”
“He transformed [the band] into something we are proud of,” said Tulare Western Principal Vern Barlogio said.
Ferenci, 52, taught at Bakersfield College before coming to Tulare Western, said marching band brass instructor Jesus Soliz, who came to the high school a year after Ferenci. Prior to that he taught at a junior high school in Ohio.
“He’s been teaching music for many years,” Soliz said.
Retired Tulare Joint Union High School District Superintendent Gerald Benton was principal at Tulare Western during one of Ferenci’s first years at the school.
“[The band] certainly was not anywhere near where it is now,” Benton said. “It was struggling before he came in and took over.”
Current District Superintendent Howard Berger said Ferenci has done a fantastic job.
“[The band is] known statewide,” he said. “They’ve competed all over the state … and have represented the school, the district and the community very well.”
“You mention the Tulare Western band to any [state] high school band and they’ve heard of them,” Soliz said.
Ferenci brought focus, confidence and energy to the band, he said. He also taught students to respect themselves and be respectful of others, Soliz said.”
Bad Bad Teacher….Not in my book
I agree with how this was carried out. The police investigated prior to arresting. That’s how all of these “crimes” should be handled, but usually the police jump the gun and arrest first and investigate later. This case was handled properly.
PB – for your information, proof was much more than just “a word of a student”, it was a rather sickening text message, along with another that requested that one of the other girls send him a nude picture of herself back to him in a tm. I read that one personally! What more proof do you want than that – he’s a sick man. If this is the type of character you defend, then society should be even leary of you sir!
He admitted to it so the police arrested him, but only after a six month investigation. This is how it should be done v. arresting a teacher only on the word of a student without any other proof.