Special ed teacher is charged with sex contact with students

[proud2BlibKansan]

ST. LOUIS -- A special education teacher faces 19 counts of statutory sodomy after she allegedly told friends that she had performed oral sex on middle school students in recent months.

Cathy Heminghaus, 46, of Ferguson, was charged with the felonies Friday.

According to court documents, some of the crimes occurred at Ferguson Middle School, where she teaches. At least three of her students are thought to be victims.

School officials notified Ferguson police and the Division of Family Services on Thursday when they first learned of the allegations. Heminghaus was immediately put on administrative leave.

http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=4363081

[mitchum]

1. Her actions are beyond the pale

I work with special ed students, and they are particularly vulnerable to such predators.
Absolutely reprehensible.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I am a special ed teacher too

and I agree with you completely.

I am also stunned that she would actually tell people what she did. :wtf:

[John Q. Citizen]

3. If in fact she is guilty.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. 19 counts

Tells me some will probably stick.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. So if the number of counts is high then the person is guilty?

She may well be guilty.

Or

She may be innocent of the charges.

I have absolutly no way to determine this from reading a newspaper article.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. It increases the likelihood of a guilty verdict

This isn't Billy who forgot to do his homework accusing his teacher of molesting him so she gets in trouble instead of him.

She has been accused of doing this 19 times. I am willing to bet at least one of those charges is going to stick.

[John Q. Citizen]

36. All you know about the case is what you read in one newspaper

account, as far as I can tell.

If you feel confident of a conviction based on that, fine.


Have you ever read about the McMartin day care case? There were lots of counts in that case as well. If you haven't read about it, I suggest you do. You might be surprised to find out that just because someone is accused of something, arrested, and charged doesn't mean they are guilty.

As I said above, I have no idea if the women in the article is guilty or not. How would I. But then again, I don't have the certainty you possess.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. I heard about this case on my local news as well

One of the victims was 10 years old and one of her friends was interviewed.

I am very familiar with the McMartin case. This case is not at all like that. The McMartins didn't tell their friends they had molested children.

[John Q. Citizen]

46. What was the name of the friend(s) the suspect told and how

close were they? How long did they know each other?

Did the friend(s) say why the suspect told (her, him) this?

I googled the name of the suspect and found a few articles and one video, but nothing about the ages of the 3 alleged victims.

Do you mean they interviewed the friend of the alleged victim or the friend of the suspect? I hope they didn't interview a ten year old on TV about this. That seems like abuse to me.



I know there were 208 counts against the McMartins, and at one time the prosecution alleged they had a jail house snitch bunked up in jail with the main suspect in the McMartin case who the prosecution said the suspect had told incriminating evidence to, but that was apparently a prosecution lie.
208 counts is certainly not like 19. It's a lot more, and it was all bogus.

[mitchum]

47. Yes, if she is guilty

[BIG Sean]

4. Its stories like this...

that make me support the death penalty.

How could somebody hurt a child, let alone one with special needs is beyond me.

I know the DP is not popular on the DU, and I can understand...but when I read things like this, I guess I get angry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Let her rot for many many years

in prison. THAT is a much worse punishment than the DP.

[aquaman]

10. Which is one reason why I am against the death penalty.....

The DP is not a punishment, it is revenge to make us feel better. I don't begrudge anyone who supports the DP, just my opinion.

[mikelewis]

19. Innocent until proven guilty? Anyone? Anyone? Nope? Oh well...

I forgot which country I lived in.

[mike_c]

7. ummm-- has it occurred to ANYONE IN THIS THREAD...

...that this is an innocent person, in principle and in fact, until she is proven guilty? Warming up ole' sparky be just a bit premature, folks.

[madeline_con]

12. I agree.

The very fact that the charges are based on her supposedly TELLING people she did this makes it sound bogus.

Having sex with the students, or telling people she is, or both, indicates she's having mental problems.

Or, she's being railroaded out of a job.

[LisaL]

14. A lot of criminals get caught because they can't keep their

mouth shut.

[madeline_con]

22. I guess some women have to brag.

But, she's innocent until convicted, IMO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. 19 counts

[mike_c]

17. not ONE of which has she been tried for-- NOT ONE....

No evidence has ever been presented against her. She has never confronted her accusers. Zero due process. You'll get along well in the brave new world of the neocon judiciary-- that presumption of innocence until guilt is proven is SUCH a quaint notion. So eighteenth century....

on edit-- I want to make this even clearer, if possible. It doesn't matter if it's 19 million counts. In America, YOU ARE INNOCENT until proven guilty-- at least that's the way it's supposed to work. Only three words, but they are the only three that count: "YOU ARE INNOCENT."

[LisaL]

21. Presumption of innocence is for the jury.

I don't have to presume anything of the sort.

[mike_c]

24. you'll be wanting one of these....

Maybe some torches and pitchforks, too.

[LisaL]

27. I am not any of the victim's parents, but they probably do feel

that way.

[John Q. Citizen]

40. These parents felt that way........

http://www.religioustolerance.org/ra_mcmar.htm


Overview:
"McMartin" was one of the first Multi-Victim Multi Offender (MVMO) child abuse cases. 2,3 It lasted six years -- the longest US criminal trial in history. At a cost to the state of $15 million, it was also the most expensive. No convictions were obtained. The main evidence of abuse was based on what the children testified were memories of repeated, sadistic, ritual molestation. Years later, child psychologists realized that such memories can be easily implanted in children's minds by the interview techniques which were used at the time. Since psychologists and police investigators have changed their methods of interrogating young children, no more MVMO cases have surfaced in the U.S. and Canada. The children's testimony was supported by medical tests, which were believed at the time to be accurate. Years later, they were found to be useless.

The hoax adversely affected the lives of hundreds of children, who are now young adults. It has become the most famous MVMO case of its type. Many feminists and others still believe that the children were subjected to horrendous abuse at McMartin. Snippets from the McMartin case have been distributed around the world and incorporated into similar stories involving false memories. Underground tunnels are probably the most popular.



Events leading up to the trial:
The McMartin preschool was located in Manhattan Beach, CA. It was owned by Peggy McMartin Buckey and her mother, Virginia McMartin. Ms. Buckey's son, Ray, was a part-time school-aide at the school. On 1983-AUG-12, Judy Johnson complained to the police that her son had been molested by Ray at the school. Ms. Johnson was an alcoholic and had been diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia. She also claimed that her son had been molested and abused by her estranged husband. The latter claim appears to have been largely ignored by the prosecution; information about it was withheld from the defense attorneys. Although there was no physical evidence or confirmation from other children at the school, Ray was arrested on SEP-7. Because of lack of evidence, the DA decided to not prosecute.

The Chief of the Manhattan Beach Police then created a local panic by circulating a "strictly confidential" letter to about 200 parents of present or past McMartin students. The letter specified that Ray may have forced the children to engage in oral sex, fondling of genitals, buttocks or chest area and sodomy". The parents were urged to question their children, seeking confirmation. The community and surrounding area was panicked by an irresponsible media. A local TV station was first with the news; they reported that the preschool might be linked to child pornography rings and various sex industries in nearby Los Angeles

....much more and worth the read

There were 208 counts prosecuted in this case, multiple times.

No convictions. It was all bogus.

[AngryAmish]

26. bingo

[John Q. Citizen]

37. No, all you need to do is read a story in the newspaper and that's it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. I have a hard time believing that she didn't do this 19 times

Once - I could give her the benefit of the doubt. Not 19 times.

And yes, some evidence has been discovered or she wouldn't have been arrested.

Child abuse laws dictate the presumption of guilt before innocence when teachers are accused. If not for that, they wouldn't be removed from the job. Yes, it sucks, but that is how the system works.

I tend to fall on the side of protecting kids from predators. But I guess that could be considered a quaint notion too. :eyes:

[mike_c]

30. I don't believe I'm having this conversation with liberals....

Anyone can be accused of crimes. Anyone can say stupid things and appear to incriminate themselves. The burden of proof is on the prosecution, and none has been offered until it's offered before the court. This is one of the most fundamental protections we have from unjust punishment. The nature of the crime-- the ALLEGED CRIME-- has nothing to do with the presumption of innocence. :banghead:

[LisaL]

32. Well, maybe you didn't notice, but we are not in court.

[mike_c]

33. nor, it seems, are we in America any longer....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence

Guaranteeing the presumption of innocence extends beyond the judicial system. For instance, in many countries journalistic codes of ethics state that journalists should refrain from referring to suspects as though their guilt was certain. For example, they use "suspect" or "defendant" when referring to the suspect, and use "allegedly" when referring to the criminal activity that the suspect is accused of. More subtly, publishing of the prosecution's case without proper defense argumentation may in practice constitute presumption of guilt. Publishing a roster of arrested suspects may constitute undeserved punishment as well, since in practice it damages the reputation of innocent suspects.

<much more at the link above>

[LisaL]

34. Fine. She is innocent, and we got nothing to discuss. Case closed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. 19 false accusations??

[mike_c]

38. if the number of charges was correlated with guilt...

...prosecutors could make their jobs a lot easier by simply multiplying the charges they bring. The number of charges is irrelevant. Check the Wikipedia article linked just up-thread. Even the most heinous crimes are accusations only-- and presumed untrue-- until a final decision is adjudicated. Think about what that means: presumed untrue. The defendent does not have to prove anything because THEY ARE ALREADY INNOCENT-- the burden of proof is entirely on the prosecution, which has not presented one shred of evidence yet. So yes, in a democratic society the 19 accusations are presumed untrue until a court decides otherwise after the evidence has been presented and argued.

I'm absolutely shocked at the difficulty some folks have not only understanding this, but in BELIEVING it in their hearts. This is what the founding fathers died for, and that's not hyperbole. This is the very essence of democratic societies-- the protection of the accused from a presumption of guilt.

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. That is not how it works with child abuse laws

When a teacher is accused, he/she is immediately removed from the job. Sometimes with pay, sometimes without. In my state and in many others, regardless of the outcome of the case, the accusation remains in the teacher's file for FIVE YEARS. So if a teacher is accused and found innocent, he/she still has a black mark on his/her record. This essentially prevents the teacher from seeking work elsewhere, as the abuse allegation is kept in that file for FIVE YEARS. It will also come up on mandatory background checks. And what district wants to hire a teacher with an allegation of abuse in his/her file?

We fought this long and hard when it was initially proposed legislation. Where were you then, Mike? :)

[John Q. Citizen]

39. mike_c, I'm with you on this. These people apparently believe

the 12 W. Virginia miners all all alive and well.

After all, it was in the newspapers and on the TV.......

Oh, you mean that was a mistake?


I'm worried when people who call themselves "liberal" are so quick to jump to conclusions about something they have no real knowledge of at all. Close minded and terrified would be a better handle.

They read one article in one newspaper and are all over it like flys on shit.

That none of us has a clue as to what the reality is doesn't faze 'em a bit.

If it turns out the woman is innocent, they will blame the media (for reporting the story) but they will not blame themselves for jumping to conclusions about whether the person named is innocent or guily.

[John Q. Citizen]

41. Read this and tell me about it.....

http://www.religioustolerance.org/ra_mcmar.htm

or this

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/mcmartin_daycare/1.html

or this

http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/pacific/la-tm-mcmartin44oct30,0,285518.story?coll=la-home-magazine

You have convicted this person in your mind. Good on you. Thanks for protecting my kids. On DU.

[mike_c]

42. that second link is awesome....

Everyone should read that story. Everyone.

on edit--

"...the grand jury heard the evidence and indicted the entire staff of seven people with more than 150 counts: Ray Buckey, his mother Peggy, his sister Peggy Ann, his grandmother Virgina, and three female teachers, two of whom were over 50. The DA added more counts, bringing the total to 208. They were imprisoned in April 1978. They all depleted their savings to finance defense lawyers.

<very big snip>

It was the longest and most expensive legal proceeding in American history. Ray, with no evidence against him, remained in jail five years before he was finally released on bail. After seven years from the first accusations and endless heartache to the defendants, no one was convicted. It had cost the community almost $16 million and had cost many parents their peace of mind."

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. I know all about the McMartin case

This doesn't resemble it in the least.

And what difference does it make what I think? I am neither on the jury nor the judge in this case.

I am just a teacher who is sick and tired of others in my profession abusing children SEXUALLY!! One of her victims was 10 years old. Think about that.

I am also a lapsed Catholic who has permanently left the church over the priest pedophilia scandal.

As I have said repeatedly, this woman has been charged with 19 counts. And she bragged to her friends. I heard one of them interviewed on local TV.

This is nowhere near the McMartin case.

[High Plains]

9. self-delete

[LisaL]

11. Has somebody been sprinkling something into the water

for those female teachers? Have they all gone freaking insane?

[madeline_con]

15. Not all, maybe...

I'm an assisstant, and keep encouraging coworkers to make sure we always do the old CYA, have a witness present, etc. They don't seem to get it. I don't want to be on the news over something completely innocuous. :shrug:

[LisaL]

20. Obviously not all. It just seems so many cases lately.

[madeline_con]

23. Yep, that's why I keep telling coworkers to check the headlines.

This happens every day. Do everything as if you wrere being video taped.

[LisaL]

28. Sounds like a good advise.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. I really doubt this is 19 different completely innocuous events

[meow2u3]

16. Someone needs to spay these cougars

Or at least, trap them and release them into the woods. :evilgrin:

[file83]

31. Thanks a lot, DEBBIE DOWNER!!!!