Teacher Smackdown

Victoria Blevins, 23, a physical education teacher at Monroe Township High School in New Jersey was arrested on charges of sexual assault and official misconduct with an underage female student for a sexual relationship that took place last spring. The victim, a 17-year-old high school student, was not taught by Blevins. The young woman no longer attends the high school.

The girl’s mother notified high school officials of instant messages that she found on a laptop. School officials immediately alerted the police who conducted a joint investigation with the prosectors office.

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Aren’t you tired of hearing about teachers getting arrested for child porn? Boy, I sure am. But the arrests keep happening!

In Neptune, New Jersey, FBI agents found child porn on Middle Road School elementary teacher Robert Cholowinski’s home computer. Cholowinski, 46, told agents that he’s been trading in child pornography over the Internet for several years now.

He’s been suspended with pay from teaching third grade. Authorities told school officials that there is no evidence suggesting that there were any pictures of students involved.

Cholowinski’s bail has been set at $250,000. Guess down at the Shore everything is NOT all right.

Robert Cholowinski, child porn, Neptune New Jersey

New Jersey’s Home News Tribune explores a recent rash of teacher sex abuse cases in Middlesex county in Districts hit by educator sex crimes. Greg Tufaro’s comprehensive article not only explores the “epidemic” but looks at the problem of some states not requiring that sexual abuse of children be reported to police:

In instances in which a teacher voluntarily surrenders his or her certificate without yet being criminally convicted of sexual contact with a minor, the forfeiture is accepted in a form letter with the full effect of a revocation but without details, because the Board of Examiners is not permitted legally to discuss the allegation; it can only confirm the surrender.

Such cases tend to involve a negotiated settlement between the teacher and district and/or teacher and prosecutors. Miller said posting revocations in that manner is problematic because it keeps the criminal charges off the Board of Examiners’ public record.

The article also mentions to websites which you should check out:

educator sex crimes, sexual abuse of children, child abuse, teach-student affair

In Newton, New Jersey, James Cunneely, 31, was indicted on sexual assault and endangering charges. He received one first-degree count and four third-degree counts for having a least a dozen sexual encounters with a 15-year-old female Kittatinny Regional High School student.

Cunneely had sex with her at three local hotels, during Super Bowl Sunday, in his car, in her bedroom, and even her mother’s bedroom. Busy guy, geez.

His attorney is trying to downgrade the first-degree charge during plea negotiations since two risk assessments of Cunneely, including one done by the state, were favorable.

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In New Jersey, former Hillsborough High School history teacher, Seth Canata, 33 pleaded guilty to charges related to a sexual relationship with a female student. The victim told authorities last summer that she and Canata had sex at the high school, in Canata’s classroom, and at other locations.

The relationship lasted nearly a year and the sexual encounters happened before the victim turned 18.

After he was arrested, Canata admitted to having sex with the girl, but he said it was after the victim turned 18. Even if she was of legal age, Canata had “supervisory and disciplinary roles” over her, thus it was completely wrong.

Canata was formally charged with second-degree official misconduct and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. As part of a plea agreement, Canata faces three to five years in prison.

Three to five? Sounds like New Jersey needs to tighten up their sexual abuse laws and make penalties stiffer.

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Seth Canata, Hillsborough High School, sexual abuse, criminal sexual contact