sexual assault grooming & our schools: a case study
DESCRIPTION
a case study on sexual abuse in our public schoolsTRANSCRIPT
PRESENTED BY DET. DEREK IRVINE& DET. DAVID ELLIOTT
CANON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Sexual Assault Sexual Assault Grooming & Our Grooming & Our
Schools: A Case StudySchools: A Case Study
Goals of the Presentation:
Heighten awareness about teacher sex offenders
Explore investigative techniques/tactics Examine difficulties/barriers in the
investigation Provide insight into one victims behaviors
and “mind set”
STATISTICS:
2004 U.S. DEPT OF EDUCATION STUDY OF 8TH – 11TH GRADE STUDENTS
SAMPLE INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVE SUBPOPULATIONS OF LATINO/A, WHITE AND AFRICAN DESCENT STUDENTS
9.6% OF ALL STUDENTS REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACT AND/OR NONCONTACT EDUCATOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
OF STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCED ANY KIND OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN SCHOOLS, 21% WERE TARGETS OF EDUCATORS
When applying the number of students who report educator sexual misconduct to the population of all K-12 students, more than 4.5 million students are subject to sexual misconduct by an employee of a school sometime between kindergarten & 12th grade
Statistics:
•A survey from 1991 from a North Carolina High School revealed that 13 percent of graduates reported they partook in sexual intercourse with a teacher and 14 percent from another NC high school.•Many school districts made confidential agreements with the abusers trading recommendations for resignations.
Statistics:
•In 2003, 159 Washington State coaches were reprimanded over a ten year period and 98 remained employed as coaches and teachers. •Between 1991 and 2000, 290,000 students reported they experienced some type of physical sexual abuse by a member of a public school staff.•A study in New York reported 225 cases of sexual abuse by a teacher and not one was reported to the police and less than 1% lost their teaching licenses.
Statistics:
Excerpt from U.S. Dept of Education, Office of the Under Secretary,Educator Sexual Misconduct: A SynthesisOf Existing Literature, Washington D.C.2004; Carol Shakeshaft
Statistic References:
•Cursory research resulted in 56 known cases in Colorado •Offenders ages ranged from 21 to 72 yoa•Average age 37.7 years old•Unable to verify ages of all victims, many were teenagers•42 male/14 female offenders
Statistics: Colorado Cases
Statistics: Colorado Cases
Statistics: Colorado Cases
Statistics: Colorado Cases
Statistics: Colorado Cases
Types of offenses:38 – sexual assault on a child, SAOC position of trust
14 – Internet luring, sexual exploitation, child pornography
4 – other (failure to rpt child use, stalking, incest,tampering w/evid)
Ladies and gentlemen: The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to “protect the innocent." – or the guilty.
Teacher Sex Offender:
The Sergeant(Retired)
Duties of a high ranking Sergeants in today's ARMY
Enlisted soldiers who attain the distinction of being selected to be sergeant majors are the epitome of success in their chosen field
There is no greater honor
Carries out policies and standard of performance, training, appearance and conduct of enlisted personnel
Is expected to function completely without supervision
Is generally the key enlisted member of staff elements
Todays Sergeant
DistinctionEpitome of successNo greater honorThey set the StandardThey are the buffers
between Officers and enlisted
To the CO, the sergeant major is the one person close to him, other than his wife
To enlisted men, the sergeant major is a port in a storm, a refuge in time of need
At the time of the investigation “the Sergeant” was 46 years old
Employed as a senior JROTC instructor, High School level
Married, two children, 14 and 1924 years active militaryBeginning his 4th year as a JROTC instructor
August 27
Victim was telling her sister and friend about cheating on her boyfriend with older man – accidental disclosure
Boyfriend is the son of the SergeantOlder man was in this 40’sSister and friend both guessed the older
man was the Sergeant, which Victim affirmsVictim tells them “where they did it (sex)”
August 28
Sister initiates pre-text phone call to victim on her own knowing that victim would deny the relationship if confronted by an adult
Victim relays same information on recording
Sister makes two copies of conversation
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Friend of sister and victim reports incident to Principle, who notifies School Resource Officer
SRO notifies investigationsInterviews of sister, friend, and third friend
scheduled and conducted School wanted to notify parents of all involved
students LE was now involved School was advised none of the students are
suspects, therefore, no parent notifications required
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Sister interview Victim relayed she and the Sergeant had sex 2
times in the woods, 2 times in the JROTC classroom storage area
The Sergeant would pick victim up from home in early morning hours, and take her to school for “drill team practice” – they were the only ones present
The Sergeant voluntarily “tutored” victim The Sergeant and Victim spent A LOT of time
together during summer @ school, and at his family’s home
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Friend interview Caught Victim in a lie on 27th, and confronted her Victim admitted to having sex with the Sergeant Knew Victim and the Sergeant text messaged each
other frequently
August 30, 2nd Day of school
3rd friend Her father is with the Colorado State Patrol 3rd friend advised sister to record conversation
between sister and victim 3rd friend never understood why the Sergeant would
pick up victim from home @ 0500 for drill team meetings in the summer when they were the only two present
Any Obvious RED Flags yet?
“Drill team practice”Voluntarily tutoredTime together during summer @ school,
and at his family’s home Rent & Utilities
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Victim interviewVictim had two cell phones on her person – 1 was
hers, other cell belonged to “Anthony” Victim uncooperative during interview
She loved him, felt betrayed by sister and friends Denied any relationship with the Sergeant Finally disclosed sex between herself and the
Sergeant “He will get in trouble for everything”
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Victim Interview: Threw her glasses, pulled her hair Admitted to “sexting” on phones Did not want to give password information –
eventually did Passwords were each others first names Victim admitted second phone was given to her by the
Sergeant (HTC Evo 4G) After interview – suicide precautions
It was also learned that the Sergeant was paying the victim’s family’s utility bills
August 30, 2nd Day of school
School District Principle and Superintendant initiated suspension
of the Sergeant -prior to end of day Advised in suspension letter that “police
recommended” suspending the Sergeant with pay pending investigation
Advised according to a new state law, parents, staff, and students be notified
An interview was scheduled with the Sergeant at 0900 the next day with Police
August 30, 2nd Day of school
Prior to leaving school Principle and District staff enquired about a suicide
watch for the Sergeant the Sergeant never exhibited signs of self harm
“Yes sir – No sir” throughout entire contact Search of JROTC storage areas conducted, nothing
located
August 30, 2nd Day of school
2100hrs the Sergeant son texts victim’s phone
“Have you seen my dad?” Welfare/ATL bolo sent out to surrounding agencies
August 31, 3rd Day of School
the Sergeant’s Interview: the Sergeant fails to show at 0900hrs Time was given for him to contact us Contacted the Sergeants Wife
the Sergeant never came home yesterday the Sergeant has PTSD All calls go direct to voicemail Did not seem concerned as the Sergeant sometimes does
this when he is stressed Wife never asked about why the Sergeant had an
interview LE 2nd Welfare/ATL bolo aired
August 31, 3rd Day of school
Arrest warrant issued for the Sergeant – School notified
School immediately issues parent notification “Warrant issued for the Sergeant , sexual assault,
charges have been filed” “Has been arrested”
September 1, 4th Day of school
Media Firestorm erupts Facebook explodes with support for the Sergeant , damns
the alleged accuser
3 search warrant applications submitted for: Phone contents (Phone given to Victim by the
Sergeant) Subscriber information for above phone Phone contents for Victims phone
Mother had given prior consent
September 1, 4th Day of school
Colorado Turkey season started Sept 1 1300hrs Hunter finds red vehicle with deceased
male inside while hunting Location inside Fremont County, secluded area in
canyon Detectives and FCSO respond Locate red vehicle – engine still running
September 1, 4th Day of school
During the interview, Jennie admitted to having a substance abuse problem
Also admitted knowing victims, but denied any wrongdoing
She stated that the victims were her babysitters
All she had done was try to help the boys and be a “mentor” to them
September 1, 4th Day of school
the Sergeant identified as deceased in vehicle
Advanced stages of decomposition Body was bloated, dense fly population Excessive heat inside vehicle Estimated at 2 days (August 30?)
Evidence recovered: Suicide note, cell phone receipt (HTC Evo 4G), cell
phone booklets
Cell Phone Contents:Victim Phone (Cell #1)
14 photos of the Sergeant , 10 of which the Sergeant is exposing his penis
1 “Teen Pregnancy facts” PDF NO text messages between the Sergeant/Victim Calendar entries
July 6 sex with SGM July 13sex with SGM July 27sex with SGM Aug 8 sex with SGM Aug 24 sex with SGM
Cell Phone Contents:Cell # 2
From evidence located in car: the Sergeant purchased phone August 3 Credit card Subscriber info:
the Sergeant, gives School address Phonebook lists only 2 people
“Alfred” as the owner “Ashlee”
Cell Phone Contents:Cell # 2
Text Messages: the Sergeant “If I only had practice longer I could have
given u a kiss” Vic “I know but its ok” the Sergeant “I hope so cant wait to kiss your sexy lips” Vic “when would u like too?”
Cell Phone Contents:Cell # 2
Text Messages: the Sergeant “had a nice dream about you last night. I
was kissing you neck, caressing your ass, kissing your lips. Sucking on your tits”
Vic “Mmmmm ‘)” the Sergeant “then you had me put my cock between
your tits and you stroked him until he came” Vic “”
More of the same
Cell Phone Contents:Cell # 2
Text Messages: Vic “I love u SGM!!!” Vic “I hope saying SGM doesn’t creep you out”
.
“Ashlee” and the victim had the exact same cell phone number
Calendar entries July 6 sex with (victim) July 13 sex with (victim) July 27 sex with (victim) Aug 8 sex with (victim) Aug 24 sex with (victim) All calendar dates were set as REOCCURING
18 incoming phone calls from Victim Utilizing her the victims real name, 1 using
“Ashlee”122 outgoing calls to victim14 missed calls from victim
the Sergeant’s personal cell phone, recovered from vehicle August 30 - unsent texts to immediate family
“Please remember the good in me “I love you, please forgive me” “I always loved you, forgive me”
Several incoming texts from family Last text from son “Daddy please come home we miss u soo much we want
you home we can get thru this dad please come home dad please”
Investigative Tactics/Techniques:Minimal & direct efforts to obtain info
about suspect from witnesses/victimsAvoid alarming/tipping off suspect (the
Sergeant was never directly told what the interview was about – just allegations of possible abuse by a student, sex was never mentioned)
Pre-text phone calls (gains truthful & relevant info from suspect and/or victim)
Investigative Tactics/Techniques:Obtain as much info about suspect and
victim as possible from friends/witnesses Judicious use of search warrants even if
you never get to serve themPAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL
It was blind luck that the victim brought the second cell phone in that belonged to “Anthony”
“Anthony” is the Sergeant’s middle name
Barriers/Difficulties Encountered:No interview with suspect was ever obtainedUncooperative victim interview, at times
Reid was usedSchool officials wanted updates as they
happened, play by playNew law mandated school release arrest
information within 24 hours and notify staff, parents, students, and past students
Outcry of support for the Sergeant from other students, school staff, parents, and family via Facebook
Media coverage/hype (one TV station reported the Sergeant’s suicide was GSW)
Labor/time intensive (60hours in 4 days)Victim did not consider themselves as a
victimStudents at school threatened victim via
facebookthe Sergeant’s family/former soldiers “there
is no way in hell he did this”
Commonalities:
•Selective with victims•Access/time alone with victims•Use of technology to groom•Staff, student suspicions•Administration/ colleague failure to respond/ report•Use of authority, retaliation, getting offender “in trouble”
Commonalities:
•Secrecy & dishonesty•Continually tests boundaries•Grooming is well-organized; long or short term•Accomplished at presenting a “respectable” façade•Highly manipulative to victims, family, friends, co-workers, supervisors, etc•Generally personable; seeks to “befriend” those around them
For more information:
Detective Derek IrvineCanon City Police Dept161 Justice Center RoadCanon City, CO 81212
(719) [email protected]
For more information:
Detective David ElliottCanon City Police Dept161 Justice Center RoadCanon City, CO 81212
(719) [email protected]