Teacher accused of molesting Student gets off

[Grace]

www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/21/charges.dropped/index.html

This is ridiculous. Above is the link to a CNN article about the former teacher who was given house arrest and 7 yrs. probation by a judge for the molestation of her 14 year old student.

This whole thing disgust me. The family asked that the charges be dropped after the Judge in the case refused to accept the plea bargin that was set up by the prosecution. According to reports the judge refused to accept the plea, because there was no jail time in the plea bargin. Instead he gives her no time. The principalities are really at work.

This is happening so often these days. Just in january I beleive a Vermont man who had molested a child for a number of years was given probation. What is really going on? Last and evil days. These Judges should be removed fromt he bench. Its a sad day in America.

[MsKayLander]

From what I understood, the family of the teen did not want this to become more of a media circus than it already has and they pressed for the charges to be dropped as they didn't want him to go through any more.

I think had it been left at the court level instead of it getting so much media attention, the charges would not have been dropped. The media is going crazy as far as this teen and his family are concerned....

[Grace]

True, but it was because the family wouldn't let the child testify that sparked the issue. Furthermore the case was going to broadcast on cable. The judge was still remiss in his duties, the woman had pleaded guilty already in one county, so that in its self was enough to convict her. But was worse was the fact that what ever the plea was the judge stated it would have underminded the court system so that was why he did not accept the plea bargin.

[MsKayLander]

That is not the reason why, well according to the information that I am listening to now about this case. She was charged with the same crime in two counties and because the mother of the teen petitioned the court in the second case, the judge decided not to allow this to go forth. It's not the fault of the judge... he could do no more than what was done in the previous county because it would cause the teen to have to testify and his mother didn't want that...

[And Such Were Some Of You]

misskaylander said:

That is not the reason why, well according to the information that I am listening to now about this case. She was charged with the same crime in two counties and because the mother of the teen petitioned the court in the second case, the judge decided not to allow this to go forth. It's not the fault of the judge... he could do no more than what was done in the previous county because it would cause the teen to have to testify and his mother didn't want that...

This is also my understanding.

[Grace]

this is a quote form t he CNN article:

But that deal was tossed out Tuesday by Marion County Superior Court Judge Hale Stancil, and prosecutors there dropped charges when the teen balked at testifying.

The only reason that the case was dropped was because the judge wouldn't accept the plea. here is a quote from the judge on why he wouldn't accept the plea:

"It is the opinion of this Court that accepting the proposed plea would undermine the credibility of this Court, and the criminal justice system as a whole, and would erode public confidence in our schools."
5th Circuit Judge Hale Stancil

I understood the parent not wanting to put the child through anymore than he had already gone through. There was no good reason why the judge couldn't have accepted the plea that was offered. Thats what I am upset with.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

It appears that the judge wanted a stricter plea deal instead of one that offered NO jail time.

[Jasmine]

The mother still did not want her teen son to testify. She stated that He has already been through enough, and while she wants to see the woman in jail, the welfare of her son was more important.

[MsKayLander]

grace said:

this is a quote form t he CNN article:

But that deal was tossed out Tuesday by Marion County Superior Court Judge Hale Stancil, and prosecutors there dropped charges when the teen balked at testifying.

The only reason that the case was dropped was because the judge wouldn't accept the plea. here is a quote from the judge on why he wouldn't accept the plea:

"It is the opinion of this Court that accepting the proposed plea would undermine the credibility of this Court, and the criminal justice system as a whole, and would erode public confidence in our schools."
5th Circuit Judge Hale Stancil

I understood the parent not wanting to put the child through anymore than he had already gone through. There was no good reason why the judge couldn't have accepted the plea that was offered. Thats what I am upset with.

If this did not get so much media coverage... I believe the outcome would have been different...

[Grace]

The mother still did not want her teen son to testify. She stated that He has already been through enough, and while she wants to see the woman in jail, the welfare of her son was more important.

Right Jasmine. She was trying to spare her son any more damage. This woman is sick and needs to go to jail. And for her to say that the media made too much of the issue and that now she can't teach is crazy. The nerve of her lawyer to say the following is really sad.

We can only hope now that in the next few weeks Debbie will basically fade into a footnote in everybody's memory."

This will not fade into the footnotes for this boy. She has scarred this boy, prayerfully not for life.

She doesn't need to be anywhere around children. and the nerve of her to say in one article

She said she was taking a journalism course online, adding, "God has given me a great outlet to write, and I would hope I could reach people through writing."

"I am a strong Christian woman," she said. "I believe that God has a path for me, and this was just a bump in the road."

This really makes me sick to my stomach. This judge even asked the mother if she was going to pursue a civil case. The mother told him none of his business.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

was this an issue of a "forced" situation or did both parties consent? You know, like the one from long ago but they eventually married last year (I believe). I am curious.

[Grace]

Consent? There is not consent with a 14 yr old. That was a child, she was a grown and a teacher at that. in most states that would be considered statutory rape, no matter if they said yes.

A stricter penalty, that would be fine, but in the end she got away with a slap on the wrist.

[And Such Were Some Of You]

okay Grace, I understand that you are upset but I am asking a simple question. I understand what the Law says - If he was forced. I am not trying to take away from the case.

I know that at 14 I knew what I was doing. Is it right - of course, not! But again, I am trying to understand the specifics of the case since I don't know much about it.

[Grace]

I would assume he went along with it. But this was a clear case of this woman taking advantage of this boy. First off your dealing with harmones at a age when kids are impressionable and willing to explore. Although he may have known what he was doing, but honestly is this child able to weigh all the consequences that come with that action. I think not we got adults that can't handle sex, and don't make the best decision regarding it.