Deseret News | Ogden teacher cleared, but questions remain

Reader comments
Ogden teacher cleared, but questions remain

J | 2:41 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

It is a sad day when a teacher uses his/her position to start a unhealthy relationship with a trusting child. For the last year or two it seems it is coming to the attention more and more. Not just male teachers either. Even adults in a clergy type positions are taking advantage of these children. What is it that they seek in these young impressible minds? A 47 year old man with an 18 or 19 year old, a 62 year old marries an 18 year old, or the 39 year old woman going for 15 year old boy? Now they say no criminal intent. I sure hope the district releases this teacher since theis has been going on for over 6 years. It is an oath that teachers take to protect their students. Some protection that is.

Christy | 2:56 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

I agree. He is a repeat offender and he should NOT be in a position of power over children. I would be livid if one of these teens were my daughter.

take his license to teach | 5:55 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

No "legal harm" was done by this teacher. He did a good job of staying within the law while he groomed select women he hoped would develop into a later relationship. However it is wrong.

How do we stand idly by and let this happen over and over again? It happens so often it seems that all schools are overrun by child obsessed predators. MOST teachers do not act like these sex-crazed individuals.

So what do parents do to prevent this? The key is communication. Parents should talk to their kids. Ask them about their teachers. Any teacher giving out their private phone number should be one to be watched (and reported).

Comments continue below

Andy | 9:09 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

So, let me get this straight. It is NOT a crime for a 40+ year old to have sex with an 18 year old? WOW!

Some limitations... | 11:12 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

I compliment the school district for placing this teacher on administrative leave and removing him from the rest of the student body.

Clearing criminal charges is one thing as the students involved are legal adults. He may not be able to clear school district policy expectations. local and state school boards can still investigate and remove him from his position.

Come forward | 11:14 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

If there are others who have information, come forward and let the investigators know!

to Andy | 3:31 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Where have you been? This guy is pathetic, but disciplined. What he did was wrong, but we are talking about a relationship between 2 adults.

Now, if you have a couple of 40+ year old men and some 15 year olds, in Utah that would be cause to ...

bronze some statues.

jump to conclusions | 7:05 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Andy- Who ever in the article said there was any sexual relationship? It's people like you who make situations like this worse. Thanks for being one of the typical judgmental Utahns. You make us proud.And yes, If there was a sexual relationship after she was 18, you are correct it is NOT a crime. You know, that whole being an adult thing once you are of legal age, 18? You may think it would be immoral but crime? Absolutely not.

Re: jump to conclusions | 9:20 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Thanks for throwing a blanket statement over all Utahns. I think you meant to say, "Thanks for being one of the typical judgemental HUMANS".

hey i | 12:34 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

have a funny feeling there was this going on with my daughter...as i am an exercise sci major and he was grooming her..until he met me face to face ..end of story..he no longer had his name or game to protect him...as i knew the game! This was too much as all it took was a complaint that the teacher was splending too much time with my daughter in a phys ed class when she wanted to play other classmates...he made his mistake by trying manipulate and all he was , was a broken down man with a position and name.

Stop the censorship | 1:03 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Gee, I have commented twice that the Deseret News is doing a dis-service to their readers by taking a man who was never charged, and writing a story that details him as a serial molestor. Why are these comments being blocked?

In Utah, are you guilty until proven innocent, or never just charged, or just guilty in a newspaper trial???

This man was not charged. He has done nothing illegal. This is the same situation as a 45 year old boss and his 18 year old secretary.

People, whether we agree or disagree, this type of journalism is just wrong. Imagine yourself, completely innocent, and tried in the newspaper. Would this type of treatment be fair then?

I challenge the Deseret News to pretend we are in a free country, with a responsible press, and at least allow my view to be heard, even if they disagree with it. Just because the deseret News chooses to print it, does not make it true.

Now, please, if the police would have found any wrongdoing, this guy would have been nailed to the wall. Leave the guy alone.

Keep Confidences! | 1:23 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

It's good that this man's name hasn't been released. Typical Utahn's, the over-reactive court system included, would have crucified him by now! Utah is ultra-sensitive when it comes to protecting our children. If the police had even the smallest amoumnt of evidence to arrest him, you can rest assured, they would have done so. Inapropriate behavior, yes! But that's it as far as we know. Let's leave it at that.

to stop the censorship | 2:38 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

a bit odd that you would complain of being censored then crucify the Deseret News for publishing a story on a man who's behavior is inappropriate. And disgusting.

Thank you des news for alerting the citizens of this state that there are teachers out there using their position of trust to groom sexual relationships with women 30 years younger. Thank you for possibly opening the door to what may very well be criminal behaviors as victims that he wasn't patient enough with may have the courage to step forward. Thank you for alerting parents such as myself who would want to know there's a teacher at that school that can't be trusted. To stop the censorship: you may be comfortable with the idea with your own child in that man's class but I'm not.

Not illegal doesn't mean okay | 2:45 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

He still broke a bunch of district rules and from what the police have said, he will probably not - nor should he - ever teach again.

Utahn | 5:27 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

When did our schools become dating centers for the teachers? Where is the UEA in this?

cktc | 7:18 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

The Deseret News should do some investigating into when the Ogden School District first became aware of possible inappropriate student-teacher relationships involving this same teacher. The district completed an investigation of this teacher's alleged unethical, immoral, and possibly illegal behavior over a year ago. Was he allowed to continue working the same teaching assignment after the first investigation because he was found to be innocent of all, or because there was no proof of any illegal activities? Considering the conclusions reached by the police after their investigation, I tend to believe it's due to the latter.

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