IL- Dist. 23 Teacher Facing Charges Found Dead

2-4-2009 Illinois:

A teacher from MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights, arrested and charged last Friday (Jan. 30) with allegedly sexually molesting a student, was found dead in his garage in Buffalo Grove early this morning (Monday), according to Buffalo Grove police.

According to police, Ronald Vos, 53, of 502 Longwood Dr., died of an apparent suicide. Police found Vos at approximately 5:45 a.m.

Police said Vos' wife called police after she initially discovered him. Authorities are unsure how long Vos was dead at the time of his finding, but said his wife reported last seeing him around 4 p.m. Sunday.

According to Prospect Heights Police Chief Bruce Morris, Vos was arrested last Friday at his home without incident.

In September 2008, the Prospect Heights Police Dept. was contacted by Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) regarding an allegation of sexual abuse that occurred at MacArthur in September 2005.

Through the investigation that was conducted by Prospect Heights police, with help from the Sex Crimes Unit of the Cook County States Attorney's Office, police said a juvenile victim reported that on one occasion, Vos allegedly sexually assaulted the boy while at school and on three more occasions outside of school between September 2005 and February or March 2007. During that time, the boy was 13-15 years old.

Further investigation produced computer records indicating that Vos and the victim agreed to trade sex for beer and cigarettes, according to Prospect Heights police.

"The investigation began in September 2008 when it was brought to our attention by school staff and the DCFS," said Morris.

But why did it take five months from the initial complaint to the arrest of Vos?

According to Morris, interviewing the child and processing the information takes a long time, because it also includes grand jury subpoenas and access to phones and computers.

Morris said detectives interviewed the child a couple times and Vos was also interviewed twice.

"We needed enough probable cause to make the arrest," said Morris. "We couldn't have made the arrest until we (police) and the State's Attorney were satisfied with all the gathered information."

On Jan. 31, Vos was taken to bond court where a $100,000 bond was set. His next hearing date was set for Feb. 27, at the Rolling Meadows courthouse.

In a Saturday, Jan. 31 letter written to parents, Prospect Heights School Dist. 23 Supt. Dr. Greg Guarrine states, "I regret to inform you that grave allegations have been made against a member of our staff, Mr. Ronald Vos, Computer Education Teacher at MacArthur Middle School. On Sept. 4, 2008, the day misconduct allegations about Mr. Ron Vos surfaced from the Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services, the administration took immediate action to suspend him and prohibited him from being on the school campus while an investigation was conducted by DCFS and the Prospect Heights Police Dept. This weekend, after an extensive and thorough investigation, Mr. Vos was charged with criminal sexual assault on a former MacArthur student. The safety and welfare of our students is our primary concern. We encourage former and current students to come forward with information regarding allegations of misconduct involving Mr. Vos."

Morris said as of right now there is only one victim police are aware of.

"We are not looking into if there were anymore victims, but if anyone wants to come forward, they can contact the school or the police department."

"DCFS is investigating allegations of abuse in this case based on a report we received Sept. 4, 2008," said Kendall Marlowe, DCFS spokesman. "The investigation is ongoing."

An attempt by the Journal to contact Guarrine and Vos' family for comment was unsuccessful. ..Source.. by RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor

FL- Former band instructor facing sex charges found dead

6-3-2008 Florida:

PORT CHARLOTTE — A former band instructor accused of molesting students at Port Charlotte High School died Monday, most likely as a result of suicide.

Sheriff’s Office investigators are awaiting a coroner’s report for confirmation.

Investigators found Bowe after responding to a report of a man with a gun at 18438 Temple Ave, Port Charlotte at 2:40 p.m. Monday.

The residence is owned by Dale Bowe and his wife Debbie Bowe, who is a civilian employee with the Sheriff’s Office.

She was possibly a witness to Dale Bowe’s death. The name of the 51-year-old, female witness to Bowe’s death is blacked out on the sheriff’s office’s incident report, but her place of business is listed as the sheriff’s office.

Dale Bowe, 46, was arrested early this year on charges of sexual battery against two Port Charlotte High School students. ...News Source.. by STAFF REPORT

FL- Can suits exorcise ghost of coach?

Players are suing the estate of a soccer coach who killed himself after he was accused of sexually molesting them.

7-10-2005 Florida:

TAMPA - No one wanted to believe that about William Burton. No one wanted to think the man their kids had looked up to for years had done those things to their boys.

In life, he was a energetic businessman and an enthusiastic soccer coach. But when Burton, 61, committed suicide late last year after allegations surfaced that he had molested several boys on the Black Watch Soccer Club, death cheated the truth. In death, Burton became for some the ghost that will forever haunt their lives.

Now the families of two of Burton's alleged victims have turned to the courts for to quiet that restless spirit. Late last month, parents of two former Black Watch team members filed separate lawsuits in Hillsborough County against Burton's estate alleging that the late Gold Cup Coffee Service executive made sexual advances toward the boys and touched them inappropriately. The lawsuits also contend the soccer coach encouraged some teenage players to have sex with prostitutes during a team trip to Europe last year.

The lawsuits call for unspecified damages. But attorneys for the unnamed teens filed legal claims earlier this year in probate court seeking a total of roughly $1.25-million from Burton's estate.

J. Meredith Wester, an attorney for a 15-year-old Tampa player and his parents, said her clients were reluctant to file their June 22 lawsuit, but felt it was their only remaining avenue to justice.

"I'm convinced that there would have been charges against Bill Burton if he hadn't committed suicide," Wester said. "I think it's real unfortunate. I think there's a lot more victims out there that haven't come forward because of this situation."

Peter Catania, attorney for Richard Coleman, the father of another 15-year-old player, agreed.

"There's no criminal prosecution available,so there's no other alternative than the civil courts," Catania said.

A former Tampa resident, Coleman moved with his son to Massachusetts before filing the June 16 lawsuit, which also names the Black Watch Soccer Club as a defendant.

"He relocated with his son because he thought it would be best for his son to get a fresh start where no one was aware of the allegations," Catania said.

The lawsuits come seven months after a Gold Cup employee found Burton dead in a company minivan near his office on the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators found a gas generator and a suicide note in the vehicle. Burton's death followed a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into allegations that he and three other Black Watch coaches were involved in sexual misconduct.

No charges were filed and the FDLE closed the inquiry in March. But during the course of the investigation, teen after teen told FDLE agents about Burton's sexual advances.

The trouble always seemed to start when the team traveled for out-of-town tournaments. During a team trip to Dallas a boy woke in the middle of the night to find Burton rubbing his back and the soccer coach's hand sliding down his boxer shorts, according to investigative reports. Other boys reported similar encounters with Burton during a trip to Seminole County. Another boy also reported seeing Burton masturbating in a hotel bathroom during one of the trips, records show.

The allegations against Burton became more complicated after several team members reported that Burton and assistant coach Eddie Rodriguez allowed the boys to visit Amsterdam's famous red light district. One team member told investigators Burton gave another teenager 50 euros to pay a prostitute to perform oral sex on the boy.

Parents of the boys reported the allegations to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office last July. The FDLE took over the case because the alleged sexual misconduct had occurred in several different places outside the county.

The charges shocked many in the community who knew Burton as the ultra-fit coach of Jesuit High School's junior varsity soccer program and longtime youth soccer booster. Before taking over his family's beverage service business in Tampa, Burton spent 17 years working his way up to the top rungs of the Marriott Corp. The allegations were a blot on his otherwise stellar reputation.

When FDLE investigators interviewed Burton last summer, he told them he knew he was in serious trouble. He said he wanted to talk about what had happened, but he'd been advised by his attorney not to say more. His death four months later left parents of the players wondering about the man they had entrusted with their sons.

"The father's upset that his son was a victim of Burton," Catania said of his client. "I think most people would be upset if their kids were a victim of something like that."

Con Foley, the personal representative for Burton's estate, said he was aware of the lawsuits but did not want to comment until he had consulted with his attorney.

Black Watch attorney Colleen Fitzgerald declined to discuss the lawsuit pending further consultation with team leadership. But she pointed out that the allegations have been costly for all involved.

Wester says her client has suffered considerably since the allegations against Burton were made public. The teenager has trouble sleeping and has lost some of his hair, she said.

"These boys are like hand picked for this team when they're 5 and 6 years old and Burton was their coach for all that time," Wester said. "That's what makes it so traumatic for the victims because the victims have known him for so many years."

The events of the past year have also damaged relations between team members, Wester said. After her client told his parents about what happened, he had few friends left from Black Watch. He now plays soccer for a different team.

"Some of those boys blame him for what happened to Burton," Wester said. "You can tell them there's nothing you did wrong, this man was sick, but when you're 14 and 15 years old, it's hard to believe that."

Researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Candace Rondeaux can be reached at 813 226-3337 or rondeaux@sptimes.com ..more.. by CANDACE RONDEAUX

TX- West Plano body identified as former soccer coach Dennis Drummond

8-4-2006 Texas:

.A body found Wednesday night in a West Plano home has been identified. The Collin County Medical Examiner’s office has determined the body to be that of Dennis Drummond, 65. County health officials say that the cause of death is a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Drummond, a former soccer coach with the Plano Youth Soccer, was recently indicted on five counts of indecency with a child. According to Officer Rick McDonald, police spokesperson, authorities were dispatched on a welfare concern in the 1500 block of Sussex Drive near Park Blvd. and Alma Drive. Upon arrival they discovered a dead body in the home. ..more.. : by Joshua C. Johnson, Staff Writer

CA- Fremont standoff ends in suicide

11-28-2006 California:

.An all-night standoff at the home of a Fremont man accused of child molestation ended early Sunday morning when the resident shot himself to death as police stormed his house. Officers arrived at the house on the 41000 block of Apricot Lane at about 10 p.m. Saturday to arrest Kenneth Sackett, 46, for abusing and molesting a girl who is now 16 years old, police said. A SWAT team was called when Sackett, who officers thought possessed a handgun, refused to allow police inside the house.

Negotiations with Sackett lasted throughout the night, police said. About 5:30 a.m., shortly after firing tear gas into the house, officers busted through the front door. As officers entered, they heard a muffled gunshot from a back bedroom, where Sackett was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. No one else was inside the house, police said. Sackett had said he worked for the Fremont Unified School District as a construction manager, according to the owners of the house, which Sackett had rented for about two years.

Neighbors said Sackett was divorced and lived in the house with two children. Officers at the house Sunday said they didn't know when the teenager first accused Sackett of molestation, how many times she said he molested her, or where the abuse took place. Sgt. Patrick Hunt said he didn't know the circumstances that led police to end negotiations and enter the house. "Obviously the goal is to have everybody safe," he said.

"We can't control when someone decides to take his own life." Hunt added that he wasn't certain if Sackett had any previous arrests or if he had a permit for the handgun. Sackett's neighbors said he barely spoke to them, and most didn't know him by name. "He was a big dude who didn't seem amiable to conversation," said one neighbor, who refused to give his name.

During the standoff, police ordered neighbors directly across the street from Sackett's house to stay in the rear of their homes. His next-door neighbors said they were taken by police to wait inside the Chevron gas station, two blocks away at Driscoll Road and Paseo Padre Parkway. "I was there from about 1:15 to about 6:30 a.m.," said a neighbor, who also asked not to be identified. "There wasn't anyplace to sit." ..more.. : by Matthew Artz

TX- Teacher kills himself after sex allegations

1-2-2007 Texas:

An English teacher committed suicide days after he resigned from his job at Clark High School amid allegations of sexual impropriety with a student, a district official said.

The body of Tommy Ford, 60, was discovered Sunday in a duplex in the 7000 block of Glen Mist. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Bexar County medical examiner's office.

His body was decomposed, though investigators could not pinpoint how long he had been dead, the medical examiner's office said.

On Dec. 14, a 17-year-old male student and his family alleged Ford had engaged in "inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature" with the teen, said Pascual Gonzalez, spokesman for the Northside Independent School District. Ford was put on administrative leave with pay the same day, and an internal district investigation was launched.

On Dec. 21, Ford resigned. Gonzalez couldn't say if his suicide was linked to the incident, but he added the investigation was incomplete at the time of Ford's death.

Ford had been an English teacher at Clark since 1978 and had been with the school district since 1968, according to his Web site.

School counselors already were preparing to help students returning from their winter vacation grip with both their teacher's passing and the death of Clark senior Cassandra Hicks.

Hicks died in a traffic accident Dec. 26 on a two-lane highway near Sweetwater, southwest of Lubbock. ..more.. by Vianna Davila, Express-News

Substitute teacher charged with lewd acts commits suicide

1-31-2008 Florida:

THE VILLAGES – A 65-year-old former substitute teacher accused of molesting an 8-year-old elementary school girl was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound this afternoon as sheriff's investigators were preparing to arrest him on charges involving two children at a different school.

Jerry Michael Bounds was found dead shortly after noon inside the bathtub at his home, at 7115 S.E. 173rd Arlington Loop in The Villages, by a neighbor who had gone to check on him, officials said.

A relative, who has been trying to reach Bounds, called the neighbor and asked the person to check on him.

Sheriff’s dispatchers received a 911 call about the suicide at 12:31 p.m. It is not clear when he committed suicide.

Bounds was arrested Tuesday by Belleview Police Detective Jimmie Sparrow, and he was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12. The child attends Belleview Elementary School.

He was released at 6:54 p.m. Tuesday after posting $30,000 bond.

Sheriff’s detectives were going to charge him with one count of lewd and lascivious battery on a child under 12 and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12. Both children attended Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School, according to officials.

Detectives say it appears Bounds shot himself with a small-caliber revolver. He reportedly used a water bottle to muffle the sound, officials said. Detectives are unsure where he was shot, saying they’re awaiting the arrival of the Medical Examiner’s Office before examining the body.

Authorities said Bounds left at least two notes, one a sealed note addressed to the Marion County School Board and the other intended for his family. In the unsealed note, he said goodbye to his family and said he didn’t do anything wrong.

Schools where Bounds has been a substitute over the past year are Belleview Elementary School, Belleview-Santos Elementary School, Harbour View Elementary School, Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School, Belleview Middle and High schools and Forest High School.

According to Marion County Public Schools spokesman Kevin Christian, Bounds resigned Jan. 22.

This morning, Marion County school principals met with Marion County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey to go over procedures for reporting abuse.

"The Superintendent wanted to reinforce any time that they suspect any abuse to report it immediately," said School Board Spokesman Kevin Christian.

Principals were told to report any incidents directly to the district and to the Department of Children and Families. ..more.. by AUSTIN L. MILLER



Substitute teacher accused of fondling girl kills himself

2-1-2008 Florida:

Detectives were on way to home to charge man with lewd acts at another school

THE VILLAGES - A substitute teacher who was accused earlier this week of molesting an 8-year-old girl at Belleview Elementary School apparently committed suicide Thursday as law enforcement officers were on their way to his home to arrest him on additional charges.

A neighbor found Jerry Michael Bounds dead shortly after noon at his home, at 7115 S.E. 173rd Arlington Loop in The Villages. He had been arrested Tuesday on the Belleview charge and was out on $30,000 bail.

Marion County sheriff's detectives were on their way to his home to arrest him on charges of committing lewd acts on two students at Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary when they got the call at 12:31 p.m. that Bounds was dead.

The charges and the suicide stunned Bounds' neighbors. Donna LaBresh, who along with another neighbor discovered Bounds' body, said she was "dumbfounded" by the turn of events.

LaBresh said Bounds' wife, Jodie, called her twice Thursday, asking her to check on her husband of 16 years. Jodie Bounds was out of town visiting her daughter and a grandchild.

LaBresh said she entered the house through the garage once, around 9 a.m. but didn't see anything amiss and thought he might be sleeping. Around 12:30 p.m., she and another neighbor found him in a bathtub with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"It doesn't make sense, he's not that type of guy," she said.

Detectives say it appears Bounds shot himself in the neck with a .22-caliber H&R handgun, using a water bottle to muffle the sound. It was unclear when Bounds took his life, but officials said they will know more after an autopsy is performed.

Authorities said Bounds left a sealed note addressed to the Marion County School Board and other notes addressed to family members. He apologized to his family members and maintained his innocence, according to sheriff's detectives. Bounds also stated he didn't want to spend time in prison and sought forgiveness for taking his life.

In his note to the School Board, he asked that his 401(k) retirement account be closed.

In another development, the Star-Banner learned that Stanton-Weirsdale's principal has been placed on administrative leave for failing to report the allegations of the two other students who accused Bounds of molestation.

Belleview police Detective Jimmy Sparrow noted in his report that when Bounds contacted the department about the inquiry at Belleview Elementary, he volunteered the information about the accusations at Stanton-Weirsdale. Bounds said Principal Donald Zaharias found the allegations to be "unfounded."

Zaharias told police he didn't report his students' allegations because the girls later said they had made up the story.

Zaharias said Assistant Principal Phyllis Hughes had handled most of the inquiry. Hughes said the girls recanted their stories when they were questioned by her and the guidance counselor.

Christian said Zaharias has been placed on paid administrative leave until the Belleview police investigation is complete.

On Monday, sheriff's detective Larry McCardle questioned the two girls at Stanton-Weirsdale and both said Bounds had touched them in September.

Detectives were convinced there was enough evidence to arrest Bounds.

"The acts are all similar in nature and are all alleged [to] have been committed in the middle of class at the teacher's desk by the defendant," Sparrow noted in his report.

Schools where Bounds has been a substitute over the past year are Belleview Elementary School, Belleview-Santos Elementary School, Harbour View Elementary School, Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School, Belleview Middle and High schools and Forest High School.

Christian said Bounds last day was Dec. 12. When school officials heard of the allegations on Jan. 3, he said Bounds was immediately placed on an inactive list.

Bounds retired to Florida after serving in thee Army and working for Revlon in Ohio. He lived in The Villages, where he was an assistant girls tennis coach at The Villages Charter High School. Gary Lester, spokesman for The Villages did not return phone calls to the Star-Banner.

The Marion county School Board hired Bounds in 2005 first to be a volleyball coach at Vanguard High School. In 2006, Bounds completed a 12-hour substitute teacher training course and received his substitute certificate to teach in Marion County.

Ed McPadden, Vanguard's athletic director, said he was not aware of any improprieties at his school.

"Volleyball was not going in the direction we wanted it to go in. Jerry stepped down in November of last year."

After Bound's arrest Tuesday, his attorney, Kevin Beck, had issued a statement saying, "We deny the allegation and we expect the process will absolve him." Bounds declined a request from the Star-Banner for an interview.

Thursday morning, Marion County school principals met with Marion County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey to go over procedures for reporting abuse.

"The superintendent wanted to reinforce any time that they suspect any abuse to report it immediately," said School Board Spokesman Kevin Christian.

Principals were told to report any incidents directly to the district and to DCF. ..Source.. by Joe VanHoose

Man kills self after child sex charge

Authorities say alleged victim was not a student at Romeo Elementary, where man worked as teacher
1-11-2008 Florida:

A Marion County man was found dead Wednesday of an apparent suicide - the same day that Levy County authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of child molestation.

Randolph Coke Markham, who taught third grade at Romeo Elementary, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a shed behind a relative's house in Morriston, authorities said. Inside the shed, Levy deputies found notes that Markham wrote proclaiming his innocence.

Markham, 28, faced a charge of engaging in sexual activity with a child younger than 12, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Evan Sullivan said.

Sullivan and Marion County School Board spokesman Kevin Christian both said that the victim was not one of Markham's students and that the crimes occurred away from school.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a complaint that Markham molested a child from 1999 to 2003.

The Marion School Board placed Markham on paid administrative leave in October, Christian said.

"Any time there are allegations of this nature, we take these actions," he said.

Sullivan said Markham knew about the warrant.

Markham had an attorney who had asked, if charges were filed, to be contacted. The lawyer would then arrange to have Markham turn himself in.

"That's not out of the ordinary," if the person is not an escape risk or a threat to the community, Sullivan said.

When Markham didn't show up when he was supposed to turn himself in, people began searching for him.

The body was found in a shed behind 7850 S.E. 175th Ave. in Morriston. Authorities say Markham hooked up pipes from a vehicle into the building, closed up and locked the structure, then pumped carbon monoxide inside.

Fumes were so thick that the person who discovered him also was overcome and fell to the ground, Sullivan said. A 911 call was made from the residence at 1:29 p.m. When rescuers arrived, they found Markham and the person who discovered him in the shed. Markham could not be revived.

Markham began teaching at Romeo Elementary in August 2006. He grew up near Romeo, where many of his family and friends live.

Romeo resident Nita Brass said she knew Markham all his life.

"He was always laughing, always having fun," Brass said of Markham. "He was as nice to talk to as anybody."

"I knew he had run into some bad problems," she said. "I guess he just couldn't take it." ..more.. by Joe VanHoose may be reached at joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com or at 352-867-4124.

Sex Assault Suspect Killed

12-27-2007 South Carolina:

A West Ashley High School teacher accused of raping a woman drove his car into a tree and died this morning, Charleston County Sheriff's Major John Clark said.

A suicide note was found in 38-year-old Scott Knight’s car.

Knight was free on a $20,000 bond after being arrested for criminal sexual conduct and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Knight was accused of forcing a woman to have sex with him at his home in Concord West of the Ashley on 45 Sycamore Ave.

He had been on administrative leave from West Ashley High School since November, when he was arrested and charged with harassing two students.

Knight taught computer tech and was employed at the high school for four years. ..more.. by LIve 5 News


Teacher Arrested Second Time, Faces Two New Charges
12-24-2007 South Carolina

A West Ashley High School teacher, first accused of harassing a student, now faces serious new charges.

Scott Knight charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct and Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature.

The September incident happened in Knight’s bedroom, deputies said.

The woman told detectives Knight lured her into his bedroom, after he claimed he had gifts for her.

Instead, police say, he closed and locked the bedroom door and then pushed her down on his bed.

Reports show the woman tried to convince Knight to let her leave the room.

Instead, the arrest affidavit says knight pinned the woman down to the bed, then sexually assaulted her.

Investigators are still trying to figure out the connection between the two and how this woman ended up in Knight's apartment.

The 38-year old is out on a 20-thousand dollar bond...and on paid administrative leave.

No word on whether the new charges will change his status at the school district.

Mary Runyon, principal at West Ashley High School, by phone told Live 5 News it’s unfortunate any time something like this happens especially when it’s a teacher.

Runyon considers Knight a good teacher. ..more.. by Hatzel Vela,




Bond Set For West Ashley Teacher Accused Of Harassing Student
11-15-2007 South Carolina:

A West Ashley High School teacher is expected to get out of jail Thursday after he was arrested, accused of harassing a student.

Scott Knight, 38, was arrested Wednesday. He's being held at the Charleston County Detention Center.

A student complained Knight had been harassing her for the last month and a half.

She says he made vulgar sexual advances and continually insulted her boyfriend, saying he wasn't good enough for her. ..more.. by Hatzel Vela,

Coach in sex case apparent suicide

Rick Lopez found hanged in jail cell
12-27-2004 Colorado

A girls basketball coach awaiting trial on charges he had sex with three of his underage players apparently hanged himself Sunday in his jail cell.

Rick Lopez, 37, was the former coach of the Colorado Hoopsters and was in the Douglas County Detention Facility when a sheriff's deputy found him hanged in his cell, said Lt. Tim Moore, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.

Lopez was being held on $500,000 bail and faced 55 felony sex-assault charges and four misdemeanor charges for allegedly having sex with three players who were minors.

Lopez left a note, but Moore declined to discuss the contents of the note or what Lopez used to hang himself until investigations confirm it was a suicide.

"It's fairly unlikely that (it was anything but a suicide) due to the circumstances," Moore said. "But with a death in custody, we always investigate."

Lopez had a preliminary hearing this month in which a judge found there was enough evidence to hold him for trial.

Lopez had threatened suicide in tapes investigators made in July of phone calls between him and one of the players he allegedly assaulted. He also apologized to the girl on the tape about the alleged incidents.

Despite those threats, he was not on suicide watch.

"There was no indication that he was suicidal," Moore said. "The tape ... was made long before he was taken into custody."

Lopez was found at 12:22 p.m. as deputies made checks after lunch. He did not share the cell with another inmate; inmates can spend time either in common areas or in their cells during the day.

Moore said Lopez had been a model inmate and never fought with other prisoners.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the county coroner and an 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Team composed of police from around the district will investigate the death.

Parents of two alleged victims declined to comment. The Denver Post does not name the alleged victims of sexual assaults without their permission.

"This is a sad day for all of those individuals, and my heart goes out to the victims, their families and all of the young ladies that were impacted by this," said Pat Miller, a parent who plays a management role on the Hoopsters and had a hand in Lopez's departure from the team. "It will take some time to bring closure. It's just a sad day that it came to this."

Chris Denker, head women's basketball coach at Colorado State, where several former Hoopsters have played, called the apparent suicide Lopez's final crime and said it robs ex-Hoopsters players and victims of a proper chance to heal through the legal process.

"The whole thing about Rick going back to Day One is that he was selfish. He showed his true colors by ending it like this, rather than showing any true remorse about the kids," Denker said. "You could talk about this being cowardly. You could talk about standing up and facing the facts. He showed no remorse.

"The players wanted a chance to put some finality to the situation through whatever the proper process is. Now, they're not going to have that opportunity."

Suzie Fisher, the mother of a former player who was not assaulted, said it didn't surprise her that Lopez appeared to have killed himself - she said he had threatened suicide to her. She also called it a selfish act.

"It was always about Rick," said the Littleton resident. "He didn't care about the girls. The ultimate act of selfishness is suicide."

She said the apparent suicide saves the girls from having to relive the experiences in court, but it also sends the wrong message.

"It's so sad for them," she added. "What a message to send that if you tell on the abuser, he will kill himself."

Shelly Steig, a former Hoopsters parent who complained that Lopez was verbally abusive in a Denver Post story that first reported the sexual allegations against him, said she was "very, very sad."

But, she added, "This story had to be told. It's a shame he hadn't been exposed before. Maybe if he had been exposed before, his life could have been saved and the girls that he hurt could have been protected."

"It's a sad ending to a sad story that's been going on a long time. That's about all I can say," said Eaglecrest girls basketball coach Sherryl Klosterman.

Added Kim LaLonde, who coaches the Boulder Rockies, another area girls club, "I'm relieved that the abuse is over."

Denker said he will "reach out" to Vanessa Espinoza, a former Hoopster on his team, and talk with her about Sunday's developments. Espinoza declined to comment.

"The kids I have or had (who played for Lopez) didn't have a good opinion of him. They thought they knew things that were happening (with the coach and other girls)," Denker said.

Lopez was accused of having sexual relationships with at least three of his former players, beginning when they were 13 and 14 years old. Douglas County sheriff's investigators said Lopez most often had sex with the girls at their parents' homes and sometimes on road trips.

"We really felt strongly about the strength of our case," said Moore. "We were looking forward to presenting that case in a public forum. However, we won't be able to do that now."

The Post story detailed accounts of four other women who played for Lopez. Three accused him of making sexual contact with them - one was of legal age at the time - and a fourth said she witnessed Lopez making inappropriate contact with another girl. The statute of limitations on those cases had expired by the time of publication.

After the story ran in October 2003, Lopez continued to coach the Hoopsters. He remained with them until July, when he abruptly left the team in the middle of a tournament in Oregon.

Police arrested him July 30 in Syracuse, N.Y., after he tried to contact one of three girls who pressed charges against him.

On the prosecution's tape, which was played during his preliminary hearing, Lopez said, "I know I'm a bad person. But I'm not evil."

The woman he was speaking with said, "You used me, manipulated, controlled me. If you really cared about me, you would have waited until I was older."

Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com. Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com. Staff writer Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com. ..more.. by Arthur Kane, Adam Thompson and Bill Briggs, Denver Post Staff Writers

Teacher found dead hours after rape indictment

7-18-2007 New Mexico:

A longtime New Mexico teacher accused of rape has been found dead in his apartment.

Frank Garcia, 52, of Espanola was indicted Monday on three counts of rape for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old member of his family.

Police say they were also investigating accusations that Garcia molested students in a classroom at Carlos Vigil Middle School where he worked.

"Allegations had come about that he had been inappropriately touching female students in his class room. This happened back in March of this year,” said Sgt. Christian Lopez of Espanola Police.

Just hours after his indictment Monday, Garcia was found dead in his Albuquerque apartment near Louisiana and Lomas NE. Espanola police tell Eyewitness News 4 the Office of the Medical Investigators ruled Garcia died of complications with alcohol.

Because of his death, Garcia’s case will not go further and is considered closed. ..more.. by KOB.com


Española teacher in sex abuse probe found dead
7-19-2007 New Mexico:

Police say Frank Garcia apparently died of complications from alcohol abuse

A 53-year-old Española middle school teacher under investigation for inappropriately touching female students was found dead in Albuquerque earlier this week, police said Wednesday.

Frank Garcia, who taught history at Carlos Vigil Middle School for at least 20 years, also was indicted two weeks ago by a Sandoval County grand jury on three counts of second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor, said Lemuel Martinez, 13th Judicial District attorney. The charges stemmed from allegations that Garcia molested an 11-year-old female relative, Martinez said.

Detective Christian Lopez of the Española Police Department said Garcia was found dead Monday in Albuquerque, apparently of complications from alcohol abuse, according to an autopsy. His death was not a suicide, Lopez said.

Española police began investigating Garcia in March when detectives received allegations that he inappropriately touched seven female students’ legs, Lopez said. The school immediately placed Garcia on leave, Lopez said.

Garcia was in the hospital in Española last month with liver problems, Lopez said. At the time, Española police gathered DNA from him for Rio Rancho police, who were investigating the family member molestation allegations, Lopez said. However, Garcia got out of the hospital and disappeared, and had been ignoring requests from Española police for an interview, Lopez said.

He was indicted on the three molestation charges in Rio Rancho on July 5, according to online court records.

Family members became concerned about Garcia because they hadn’t heard from in a while and he hadn’t been feeling well. A brother-in-law called Albuquerque police just before 6 p.m. Monday to ask them to check on Garcia, and police found him dead in his apartment at the corner of Lomas and Louisiana in northeast Albuquerque.

Garcia had faced charges of inappropriately touching students in 1992, Lopez said. Online court records state that a jury acquitted Garcia of nine counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and four counts of battery in January 1993. ..more.. by Jason Auslander

Former teacher, sex offender ends own life, police say

6-14-2007 Maryland:
A former Howard County teacher and convicted sex offender who evaded jail for 10 months in 2001 after he failed to show up to begin his incarceration was found dead in the Patapsco River, near Ellicott City, last week, in what Baltimore County police said was a suicide.

Klaude Joseph Krannebitter, 44, of the 700 block of Charing Cross Road, in Baltimore County, jumped to his death June 7 from a bridge on Interstate 70, near the Howard-Baltimore county line, according to Baltimore County police.

Krannebitter's body was discovered on the same day that he was scheduled to appear in Harford County Circuit Court for a trial on charges of drunken driving.

A fisherman discovered Krannebitter's body in shallow water shortly after 8 a.m., police said, adding that officers found Krannebitter's car parked on the bridge and a suicide note in the car.

Prior to his conviction in 1999 on charges that he had sex with a 15-year-old Baltimore County boy, Krannebitter taught health and physical education at Glenwood Middle School from 1986 to 1999, and for several years coached junior varsity and varsity boys basketball at Glenelg High School.

Money for sex acts, boy said

'Morphed' porn found on teacher's Mac

He committed suicide after being accused of inappropriate e-mails.
5-30-2007 Florida:

NEW PORT RICHEY - In February, a tech support worker found a CD file folder marked "Students X" on a middle school science teacher's school laptop.

There, on the disc in Stephan Brown's Apple MacBook, were six of his students' faces superimposed onto 22 pictures of adult pornography, according to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report released Tuesday. Such "morphed" images still constitute child porn, a federal offense, the report said.

The file folder was among four that contained adult pornography as well as nonoffensive photos of Brown's students at Seven Springs Middle School working outside his classroom.

Brown, 47, killed himself sometime between Feb. 17 and 19, before authorities could question him about the pictures. It took three months for the sheriff's office to complete the investigation and release its findings, which shed new light on the teacher's suicide.

"The children weren't victims in the normal sense," sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said Tuesday, explaining why the investigation took so long. "They weren't committing sex acts or being photographed nude."

Detectives interviewed the students in the photos, according to the report. They said Brown never inappropriately touched them, and that Brown was a very good teacher.

In a job evaluation two years ago, principal Chris Christoff called Brown "a force in the science lab," someone who could "inspire even the most withdrawn students to love the scientific process."

Trouble began brewing in early February for Brown, who had taught in Pasco since 1993.

Brown sent e-mails to a 12-year-old student asking whether she had a boyfriend and urging her to share "the juicy details," according to the report. The girl's father found the e-mails Feb. 11 and called authorities.

The next day, Brown was placed on paid leave. The principal sent parents a letter saying the sheriff's office was investigating a complaint of "inappropriate electronic communications" between an employee and a student, offering no more specifics.

Authorities found nothing illegal when they searched Brown's laptop, the report said. But on Feb. 16, a tech support worker at the school found the pornographic photos on the disc. Brown resigned that day.

He was last seen Feb. 17. His wife, Beth Brown, principal at John Long Middle School, reported him missing the next day.

A sheriff's deputy found him Feb. 19 at the YMCA in Trinity. Brown had hanged himself at the ropes course.

If he were still alive, Brown could have be charged with a federal offense of possessing child pornography, said Steven Cole, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.

That's because the legal definition of child porn includes "morphed" images of children's faces on adult bodies performing sexual acts, Cole said. A person convicted of possessing such images could face up to five years in prison. ..more.. by

Teacher in sex photo trial discovered dead

On trial for alleged inappropriate photos, found dead in car with engine on
1-11-2007 Pennsylvania:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A suspended teacher on trial over charges of photographing teenage boys in revealing clothing was found dead in a car idling in his garage, authorities said.

Police went to the home of Keith Snyder, 55, after he failed to appear in court Wednesday. Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden announced the death and sent the jury home. She did not provide any other details.

An autopsy was scheduled.

Snyder was suspended from teaching at Southern Lehigh High School shortly after he was charged in 2005 with corruption of minors, solicitation of a minor to pose nude and evidence tampering.

Several teenage boys who were Snyder’s former students testified this week that Snyder paid them extra if they performed chores at his home while bare-chested or wearing skimpy bathing suits or wrestling singlets.

“We felt this defendant committed crimes that negatively impacted young boys. Our office vigorously prosecuted the case, but on a human side, whenever a life is lost it is tragic,” said District Attorney John Morganelli.

Snyder’s attorney, Bohdan Zelechiwsky, declined to comment. ..more.. by Associated Press