Tom Porras
Posted by: Webmaster in Arizona, Charges Dismissed, Coaches, High Profile Cases, High Schools, ME-FV, Substitute Teachers
(5/31/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Tom Porras, 49, of Scottsdale, AZ, a substitute teacher and assistant track coach at Saguaro High School today entered a not guilty plea on a felony count of sexual abuse, one count of public sexual indecency and one count of assault in a case in which Porras is accused of the sexual assault of a 17-year-old female student.
Porras came to attention of authorities in April when a school resource officer was notified of the alleged incident by school staff. He was arrested at the school. It is alleged that while being interviewed by police, Porras made admissions to the sexual abuse.
The teenager told police Porras, an assistant track and football coach and former professional football player, inappropriately touched her while she was at his house on Wednesday. She told officers she was invited to the home for an “athletic massage,” and during the time she was there, he had unwanted sexual contact with her.
While being interviewed by police, Porras made admissions to the sexual abuse incident, a Class 5 felony if convicted, and public sexual indecency, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
In the wake of the April allegations, Porras was placed on unpaid administrative leave.
Porras is scheduled to be back in court on July 3rd and he is currently under electronic monitoring supervision.
Porras is a former professional football quarterback who played for 17 years in the Canadian Football League, the United States Football League and the Arena Football League. His football career ending in 1996. He began work for Saguaro High School during the 2003-2004 school year and was the assistant football coach for Saguaro’s 2006 state championship team.
6/28/07 - Pretrial Conference Set
A pre-trial conference has been set for Thomas Porras for next Tuesday morning. Allegedly Porras has admitted to police that he fondled and ejaculated upon girl while giving her an “athletic massage”. Porras has been fired by the school system.
8/10/07 - Trial Management Conference Set
A trial-management conference has been scheduled for September 13 in the case of Thomas Porras.
Update 10/16/07:
Tom Porras reportedly had planned to enter a plea agreement, requiring him in part to register as a sex offender, spend 30 days in jail, spend 20 years on probation and pay fines and restitution to the victim of up to $10,000.
Then he changed his mind, backing out of the plea deal leaving the mother of the alleged victim frustrated and angry.
Defense attorney Amy Nguyen informed Judge Helene Abrams that Porras would not be accepting the plea offer and has filed a motion to eliminate evidence which includes a confession by Porras.
11/15/07 - Attorney Says Porras ‘pressured’ To Confess
Amy Nguyen, attorney for Tom Porras, said she will ask Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams at a Dec. 6 hearing to throw out admissions Porras made to police.
In that confession Porras said that he had fondled the girl and ejaculated on her when she was at his home on April 26.
Nguyen says that police pressured Porras “to confess” that he had fondled the student, even though he had invoked his right to remain silent three times.
12/20/07 - Hearing On Confession
A hearing was held Thursday to determine whether the confessions of Tom Porras will be permitted to be used as evidence in further court proceedings. A ruling is expected next month.
Porras’ attorney, Amy Nguyen, contends that Porras’ right to remain silent was violated when the detectives continued to question him after he invoked his right to seek legal advice three times while being questioned.
1/22/08 - Confessions Tossed Out
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams has tossed out two confession by Tom Porras.
Porras’ attorney had asked Abrams to throw out the confessions because police had ignored his constitutional rights to remain silent and have an attorney present when they questioned him April 26, 2007.
The judge obviously agreed.
The prosecution is considering an appeal of the judge’s ruling.
2/27/08 - Charges Dismissed
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams, at the prosecutor’s request, dismissed the case against Tom Porras.
In January, Judge Abrams threw out Porras’ confessions to Scottsdale police that he had fondled and ejaculated on the student.
The judge ruled that Scottsdale detectives ignored Porras’ requests “at least three times” not to be questioned about the allegations.
The loss of the confessions crippled the prosecution’s case against Porras.
The County Attorney is appealing Abrams decision regarding the confessions to the Arizona Court of Appeals, and may re-file the case against Porras.
08/11/08 - Case In Arizona Court of Appeals
The Arizona Court of Appeals has ordered both the defense and prosecution to file written arguments Thursday as the state appeals the ruling of Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams which tossed out a confession by Tom Porras. The loss of the confession crippled the state’s case.
References:
‘Athletic massage’ case back in the courts (08/11/08)
Sex-abuse case against Scottsdale teacher dismissed (2/27/08)
Confessions in Saguaro sex abuse case tossed (1/22/08)
Judge tosses teacher’s confession in sex case (1/22/08)
Ruling due on coach’s sex case confession (12/21/07)
Attorney: Ex-teacher in sex case ‘pressured’ to confess (11/15/07)
Scottsdale teacher rejects deal in sex case (10/16/07)
Ex-coach backs out of plea deal in student-sex case (10/16/07)
New hearing set for teacher in sex case (8/10/07)
Hearing set for ex-coach in school sex case (6/28/07)
Coach In Sex Abuse Case In Court
Background:
Saguaro High substitute teacher and coach arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse
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September 4th, 2008 at 10:37 am
This comment is directed to Jeremy, AG and Guru…. and anyone else who cares………
FIRST OF ALL Jeremy, the child was NOT an emancipated adult…. her parents are NOT divorced, and they were very much involved in her day to day care. They had dual residences and the child was there going to school for Sports… On the days they were not there, she was in the care of an Adult sibling. This would have happened even if they had been there full time.
to Guru and AG… This is not a case of innocent until proven guilty……it is a case where the scum confessed at his work place (PRIOR to being arrested) and then again at the police station… He is a sick individual, who after agreeing to a plea bargin, (because of his guilt) backed out… probably because most men in jail don’t like pedofiles.
SO PLEASE GET YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I am from the school of Tarkio, Missouri. Lee Rucker was my coach in so many different things. My good friends dad and my princibles husband. He was bailed and no one knows where he is. We think he is at his parents but we arent sure. I still cant believe this could in a small little town like Tarkio, Missouri.
In keeping with site policies as outlined in the “Comments” page the last name of the person purported to have made this comment has been altered to an initial only by the site moderator.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
The police screwed up again. Why was he arrested in the first place, just based on the word of the student. First comes the confession then you arrest the person, and not the other way around.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I don’t see any conviction here, yet I see a lot of character assassination of a dedicated teacher, who works for peanuts, just to help students learn. Where are the morals of the people who run this website. Shame on the governing board of badbadteachers.com. Their IRS 990 form needs to be pulled to determine what their actual business purpose is, as I am sure that it is not libeling individuals awaiting trial on unproven charges. The non-profit status of this group needs to be pulled, and their Google ads pulled. Word Press, Google, and BadBadTeacher can expect a huge lawsuit for defamation and libel after this.
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My, my. Why don’t you tell us how you really feel… - Webmaster badbadteacher.com
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
The claimed victim in this case is an emanncipated minor, who was one week away from her 18th birthday. She called Tom many times to entice him to let her come over and give her a “massage”, as an emancipated minor, who lives with another individual and not with either of her divorced parents. This is the type of over policing that has gotten our country into the position of first place in incarceration rates in the World. Since someone has stained Tom Porras’s reputation, lets publish the name of the emancipated minor (legally an adult in the eyes of the law) and not play games by claiming that she is under age. If her mother was concerned, she would not have let her daughter move out and live with other people long ago. Sounds like the mother smells money and wants to sue in civil court, claiming that the already damaged goods of the emancipated minor were really “virgin” goods. The Italians have a saying, the first press is Extra Extra Virgin Oil, the second press is Extra Virgin Oil, and the third press is Virgin Oil, so it’s still virgin after three presses. Sounds like a paisan of a policeman imagined this little story about a virgin who is really an emancipated minor.
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This comment edited slightly to remove the last name of the person purportedly making it. This was done in accordance with site policies as outlined in the “About Comments” page. As to publishing the name of the alleged victim, that will not happen here. If you wish to do so elsewhere, that is your option. Please see the “About Comments” page since you appear to wish to use different identities when posting multiple comments. That is also against our site policies as outlined in the “About Comments” page, available from any page throughout this site. Webmaster badbadteacher.com
March 20th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
geez, I guess she hadn’t heard of that ‘come over to my house for a massage’ line before. First time for everything I guess.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
My family new Tom Porras back in the 70’s and 80’s my Father
was manager of a few softball teams and Tom always played on my dad’s teams. Tom was a great guy. But I always viewed Tom as a “PLAYER”. Great Guy but you could tell he had skeletons in the
closet. I always thought it strange for a man who made good money
to be a substitute teacher at Channel Islands high in the mid 80’s.
I never saw Tom do anything strange but it just seemed like he was
looking for something, on the prowl. Tom from what I remember was
a GREAT guy. But for some the urg to screw up takes over, I guess.
I hope you work through this Tom. Mostly I hope that young lady
can get through all of the bull she will have to carry.