08/28/08 - Initial BBT Report)
Thomas Price, 42, a teacher at Lincoln High School in Shinnston, West Virginia has been arrested and charged with displaying obscene material to a minor.
It is alleged that between January and August of this year that Price sent a boy text messages describing sex acts he wanted to participate in with the boy. It is further alleged that Price sent the boy links to pornographic websites.
Price is charged with two felony counts of displaying and distributing obscene matter to a minor and was being held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Authorities have not indicated if the alleged victim is one of Price’s students, nor have they released the boys age.
Reportedly Price was taken into custody at the school on Thursday afternoon.
References:
Lincoln High School Teacher Arrested (08/28/08)
High School Teacher Arrest (08/28/08)
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Entries (RSS)
October 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I believe that one is innocent until proven guilty, but I also believe that officers of the State Police would not arrest someone without any valid evidence. I personally believe the phone records and computer records will tell the truth. I find it odd that a teacher would want to spend time on myspace talking to students. It is scary that someone that spent so much time with children teaching piano lessons, numerous church activities and as a teacher in the school system could be found guilty of very serious charges.
Statisics do show that predators often have beautiful families, are often very popular in their community and are often trusted. They are often experts at gaining trust. The phone and computer records will be very important. If he is found guilty, I do not think that he should ever be allowed to be around children.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:10 am
For one everyone taking up for him umm… hello he confessed and waived his chance for a hearing. He is guilty and I for one think it is sick.. When I had him for class he was always calling someone back in his office and why would a teacher call you back to his office and shut the door. sounds wierd to me… Idk this world is sick I hate to send my kids to school. There is no need to take up for the guy when he admitted to it.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Is there ANY chance that his phone got into the hands of a student and they sent the text messages as a joke? If this is the case then I feel bad for the guy. I think this defense could easily fall apart if the times the messages were sent makes this scenario unlikely or impossible.
I have been a teacher for 24 years. There is NO REASON to be texting students. NONE. Especially with anything sexual in nature.
From all the messages from former students he sounds like a fantastic guy and I hope this is all a misunderstanding. But the fact of the matter is, some very good people make some very poor judgments. In this case it looks like the harm he caused was relatively light but the punishment he has already faced is severe.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I still think it was a joke or something taken the wrong way. Also, Tom would let kids see his cell phone and the like. I had Tom for chorus in elementary school and worked with him in high school. I do not think he has something dark like this in him…
September 30th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Well, I am so torn in between 2 thoughts. We all know how Tom joked around with kids, but we also know how he took “other” kids into his office. I also thought that strange. But I would have never thought he would do something like that. He was a great teacher and honorable man. I joked with him alot, and he was always smiling and happy. He was my fave teacher in high school, and I would have never thought of him like this. I am praying for him. We all make mistakes, and everyone deserves a second chance.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Pedo Phile if you actually knew Tom, u would understand.
i dont believe this happened and i dont not appriciate you judging him.
UGH!!!! people make me so mad!!!
>:-l…u people need to think!!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
In shock!!!!
I can’t not believe ths is happening.Tom was an amazing teacher ,I learned so much from him. I know that everyone said things about him being gay , but it was just kids talking about the way someone dressed or someone talked.I mean come on Tom has a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter. I know that he was a joking man and a timid one at that. I don’t know what to believe. I want to defend him and say this was a joke gone bad, but then there is a part of me that want to say what kind of sick person would do this.Him was a solid member of this community I mean come who would think their childs favorite teacher who is a commited member of the church with a beautiful family has a dark side like this. This scares me to send my child to school if this is all true, my daughter starts kindergarten next year and if a teacher like Tom Price can do something like this then what is this world coming to.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful wife and daughter,and also his parents they are such nice people.As for Tom I can’t beleive you would risk putting your family through something like this!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
we take up for him cause he was a great teacher when we had him in school and it was a big schock to most of us
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I don’t see how you can take up for this sick man. I know if i had kids that were being talked to like that from a teacher I wouldn’t have called the police. I woulda called my good old buddy Winchester. Pedo over and out..
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
wow.
when i heard this i cried.
i really looked up to tom and can not believe that this has happened.
i have known tom for about 7 years and this shocked me and many of my friends.
he was a wonderful piano player and singer.
i am still glad that i got to know this man.
everyone has made mistakes…but this is a lot to take in….and by the way all of you guys bashing Tom need to really rethink your accusations.
its not like you guys are perfect either we all have our faults.
it kills me to read people saying that he was a horrible man…he wasnt.
dont get me wrong if all this is true i dont want him roaming the streets but if its not are you guys still gonna hate him for being accused???
well these are just a few thoughts.
i miss tom and i will be praying for him all the time.
Love and Prayers Tom…
From all of us at Chanticleer.