Deseret News | Teacher arrested in sex case

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Teacher arrested in sex case

Another teacher? | 7:12 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

What is happening with all of the arrests of school teachers? They should have to have some kind of test or background check. Why don't we have school safety assemblies that talk about inappropriate sexual relations with teachers?

Yes, another teacher | 7:23 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

They DO have background checks. But background checks don't pick up those who have not previously committed crimes. They DO have school safety assemblies that talk about inappropriate relations with adults. Likewise, there are many assemblies and instructions to young people to avoid drugs--do they all abstain from drugs by reason of these instructions?

To Another Teacher. | 7:32 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

I used to substitute teach (I am eventually going to be a full time teacher) and I filled out a form, gave my fingerprints and they did a background check. This is normal.

That sad truth is that you can never really know what is going on in the head of a person.

When I was a senior in high school, I thought 'no wonder it happens when girls dress the way they do and parents allow for such sleazy behavior. Though I still believe that these two things still need to be addressed I have realized something.. The older you get, the younger kids seem to look. I can't believe that some 16 year olds are driving when they look MUCH too young to drive. My point is that there are two problems.

One - change the rules at home. Parents are forgetting what it means to be a parent. Best friend & parent are NOT the same thing.

Two - watch for every possible sign you can with teachers, male and female alike.

Teachers need to avoid being alone with children. If married would you want to be alone with another attractive person? NO! It's only common sense!

Comments continue below

MD Pearson | 8:09 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

My Daughter complained about this teacher 2 years. Along with about 12 other female students. What is going on with the adminstration and School DIST. if this is a on going PROBLEM? I taught mathematics in Clark County Nevada for almost 20 years. People got fire for this stuff. Washington County parents talk to your kids and protect them all.

MD Pearson | 8:18 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

i added email to this so you could contact me. if you see a problem with earier coment.

Anonymous | 8:42 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

While I do believe many accusations are true, I also know that occasionally, a student will lie about this type of behavior. A good friend was falsely accused and it took months to finally clear his name. The toll on his family was indescribable. I'm so grateful the truth finally came out. Sadly, the scars will always remain.

Retired Teacher | 9:21 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

I in no way condone any sexual type of talk or contact with students. That said I was accused once and I was abused because it was a totally false accusation. When I denied it the investigators said, that is what they all say. This could have ruined my career and my honor. Not all of these accusations are true. On the other hand if they are I have no sympathy.

Let's not forget that this teacher hasn't even been charged. I have no doubt that there are teachers who have been ruined by false accusations. There are reasons that students will lie about this, even though some believe that they never do.

Anonymous | 9:26 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

I don't think he did it!!

Anonymous-me | 10:28 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

We do have background checks, but all of the background checks in the world aren't going to prevent this from EVER happening. Every perpetrator has a first time offense. Or at least a first time that any accusations have to come to public light. Seemingly good people can turn out to be shockingly disturbed in ways that nobody is aware.

would this be any different | 6:55 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Would this be any different if this was a woman involved? More over as kids did we not have crushes on teachers that wore mini skirts so short you could see the whole show? Didn't anyone see the movie Summer of 42? With that said, adult males preying on their students is wrong. Any adult preying on kids is wrong. But that said in one comment of saying if your married would you want to be with an attractive person, heck yes, better than an ugly one. There is more to this story that will shed new life.

this is a warning | 9:04 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

i pity the fool who even tries this on my daughter, she has some pretty bad brothers just a waiting and "to another teacher" get off the horse...the dominant religion here in this small town would do well to teach their children some things ...they are there 24/7 but there are some acceptable behavioral practices which encourage such things...i have no farther to look than the local doctor who comes from out of town and is amazed what the local teens think is not sex. and this meat head mentality exists everywhere..it is archaic at best...keep things academic!

Anonymous | 9:19 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

i went to this school a couple of years ago. i am honestly not surprised at all. i think everyone at pine view could see this coming. i do feel so bad for his family though.

Teachers are people | 10:38 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

and people today seem preoccupied with sex, sex, sex. It's in the clothes, the music, the movies, the talk, the celebrities. Rather than being treated as a special thing between two people who love each other and designed to deepen their marriage, sex is treated as almost a self-indulgent sport.
If we, as a society, are going to act like that, why should we be surprised that teachers also act that way.

Anonymous | 11:00 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

He was/is my teacher right now and i can speak for a lot of students when i say if he is let go/convicted he will be greatly missed AS A TEACHER. That class is going to be sooo boring without him. I am hoping that it was all a misunderstanding. if not.. well good thing they caught him before he abused more minors. I do feel so bad for his family either way..

Frederick Gerard Gene Depardeu | 11:40 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Harsher penalties for this will make a few think harder before preying on kids.

I can't believe this | 11:50 a.m. Oct. 13, 2009

I was a student of Mr. Cody durring the 2005 - 2006 school year. I didn't have a lot of friends, hated school. just wanted to drop out. Mr. Cody made me believe I could do good in school and life. I learned the most in his class. He was and still is my favorite teacher I ever had. I know that he is greatly missed at Pineview and if convicted Pineview will be losing one of the best teachers they have.

Not surprised | 12:28 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Being a former student of his in the mid 90's in Wyoming, I am regretfully not surprised in the least that this has happened. I am more surprised that he wasn't caught earlier.

This is the UEA's fault | 12:50 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

UEA's trade unionism has contributed more to the coarsening of the teaching profession than all the low salaries and large class sizes put together.

UEA develops a sense of entitlement in gullible teachers and convinces them they are being put upon by cheap school districts and uncaring voters.

They then take it a step further and, in true trade union fashion, preach socialism and Alinsky-inspired "community activism" -- that boils down to, "it's OK to lie, ignore the law, and cheat, if you get what you want out of it."

It's a credit to the good people in education that there isn't more of this out there.

But, it's certainly no thanks to the UEA.

Bill Baumgardner Sr. | 1:59 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

It always amazes me when some one states that the person was never convicted of a crime. Well, I do believe that a lot of these so called first offenders probably committed many crimes that they were not caught for. THINK! Thank you.

Anonymous 2 | 2:19 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

I have known John for many years. I have been unable to rest or clear my mind since I heard this terrible news. I feel for his family and I pray this is not true! But, if it is true, I am sorely disappointed and disgusted in the actions and he should be punished accordingly. I don't understand if there where all these complaints to the school before, why were they not followed up on before something like this was allowed to happen, on or off school grounds! It may have been prevented.

John I am praying for you and your family.

Unfortunate | 2:28 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

It's unfortunate, although natural I suppose, that the accused's profession is emphasized in reports about this case.

Fact 1: The guy is a high school teacher.

Fact 2: The guy is an accused child molester.

In terms of the crimes he's accused of, Fact 1 and Fact 2 are coincidences.

The crimes are NOT alleged to have occurred at school, and, based on statements from the law enforcement agency that arrested him, no students of the school where he teaches are among the victims.

BTW, I gathered this information by reading/watching other reports as well as this one.

He's accused of molesting girls at the clubhouse swimming pool of the subdivision where he lives.

If true, that makes him a garden variety pervert who happens to be a teacher. The perp could have just as easily been a CPA, a farm laborer, or an unemployed cable TV installer, for example.

Based on that, it's hard for me to see how enhanced background checks could have exposed his proclivities beforehand. AND hard to see how anyone can blame the UEA for complicity.

Anonymous911 | 4:35 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Hopefully the recent Davis and Millard County results (prison in both cases) will effect the outcomes in some of the other cases like this. It's getting rediculous.

Ashtonj | 4:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

I have known john and his sweet wife for about a year. These offenses seem so crazy. They i thought were the best family just about left out there. I am shocked saddened and sickened to hear he might have done this. I hope justice is served whatever the case may be.

Anonymous | 3:50 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I attended this high school a few years ago. I don't know anyone who is surprised by this. His actions towards female students were questionable at best. I can think of at least three separate instances when I thought he should have been fired for his conduct towards girls. He was a lousy teacher and a pervert. I feel sorry for his family and heart-broken for the victims. I am disappointed that the high school administration never followed through on any of the complaints they recieved. I believe that if parents had seen the way he interacted with their daugthers at school, they would have thrown a fit, and he would have been removed years ago. I hope he is punished for what he has done, and I pray all of his victims can recover from what he did to them.

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