Bureaucrats Behaving Badly -- SUPERSIZED
Lowlights in 'public service' for the week ending 15 December
Know about a bureaucrat behaving badly? Got a link to a maddening, disturbing, or hilarious account of an out-of-control “public servant”? Contact me at dowd@dowdmuska.com or @dowdmuska.
NC Teacher Arrested After Suspicious Mother Finds Her Having Sex With Son, Takes Photos, Say Prosecutors (Inside Edition)
“The victim is 18, which is the age of consent in the state, but a teacher cannot legally have sex with a student who is more than four years their junior unless they are married.”
Memorial HS teacher allegedly gave student perfect test scores amid sexual relationship, docs show (KTRK-TV)
“ABC13 asked the district if it had a statement concerning the charge and Griffin’s status as a teacher. Spring Branch ISD didn’t address whether he is on administrative leave or comment on the charge.”
Bail reduced for Arvin teacher charged with sex crimes (KGET)
“She told the court Parra concealed the teen in a vehicle to sneak her onto campus. The two engaged in sexual activity on a futon bed in the attic above his classroom and in a storage closet.”
Ex-Hialeah ‘rookie teacher of the year’ pleads guilty to sex crimes with 14-year-old (WTVJ)
“The boy’s father later saw the phone, which had explicit photos that Lopez-Murray had sent, the report said. Text messages detailed ‘how much they enjoyed the sex with each other.’”
Medina High School math teacher, coach indicted on sex-related charges involving minor (Akron Beacon Journal)
“He is the second teacher from the school this year to have been charged with sex-related crimes involving minors.”
“When she told Williams she thought of him more as a father figure and did not want a sexual relationship, investigators say the former teacher told her she was misguided ‘by the societal idea that a 17-year-old and 45-year-old shouldn’t be together.’”
Sheriff: Former high school band director charged with felony indecent liberties with student (WLOS)
“Harwood said the sheriff’s office ‘worked hand-in-hand’ with Madison County Schools administration during its investigation into Chandler.”
Former Sulphur Teacher of the Year arrested for child pornography in Texas (KPLC)
“Espree, who most recently worked as a music teacher in Klein, Texas, was employed as an elementary school music teacher for the Calcasieu Parish School Board from 2016 to 2020.”
Socorro ISD middle school teacher arrested on child porn charge (El Paso Times)
“Colorado, who has worked for the district since August 2013, is currently on paid administrative leave.”
Miami-Dade middle school teacher arrested after he paid student for explicit photos: Police (WTVJ)
“The report said Ruiz would request to see her outside her home alone and confessed his love to her, sending her naked pictures of himself.”
INVESTIGATE: Teacher fired, contract not renewed several times before child porn arrest (WJHG/WECP)
“It revealed he’d been fired twice, and his contract was not renewed several times, but he continued to be re-hired multiple times.”
Houston County teacher arrested on child cruelty and terroristic threats charges (WGXA)
“The Houston County School District did not confirm or deny whether Reese is still employed.”
Lodge Grass teacher arrested for alleged alcohol use on job (KTVQ)
“Real Bird could face charges of child endangerment. The BIA is investigating, but it was unclear … if charges had been filed.”
City of Alamogordo employee accused of killing co-worker (KRQE)
“Jacobs admitted to shooting Romo multiple times at Hang Gliders Park, where the two met to ‘settle their dispute.’”
Austin Water employee charged with possession of child pornography (KXAN)
“He is accused of possessing at least seven videos of children engaged in sex acts that were shared through the Kik Messenger app.”
MCSO Investigator arrested on Possession with the Intent to Disseminate Child Pornography charge (WTVM)
“This type of criminal behavior is absolutely unacceptable. We will continue to work in collaboration with our federal and local partners on this case. This is still an ongoing investigation that may result in more criminal charges.”
Ex-Boone County sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to animal neglect in death of K-9 officer (The Des Moines Register)
“Wingate was originally charged with torturing/injuring/killing/threatening a police dog, a class D felony, and animal neglect with serious injury or death, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and the felony charge was dropped.”
Former LASD Deputy Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Falsely Imprisoning a Victim and Then Trying to Cover Up His Crime (U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California)
“Judge Anderson said Vega’s conduct had ‘embarrassed’ the Sheriff’s Department and ‘every man and woman that puts on a badge every day and puts their lives at risk’ and that today’s sentence sends ‘a clear message that there are serious consequences for law enforcement officers who abuse their power and violate their sworn oath to uphold the law.’”
New police board revokes certification for six officers in first meeting (Santa Fe New Mexican)
“One of the actions the board took … was a temporary suspension of certification for Brad Lunsford, a Las Cruces police officer who recently was indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge after he was accused of shooting and killing a man.”
Former Douglas County deputy arrested after admitting to embezzling from union (KOIN)
“During the ensuing investigation, Roseburg police reported that Collins admitted to embezzling more than $100,000 from the association between 2016 and 2023. In that time, the former deputy took on an additional role as union treasurer.”
“The Inspector General says the failure of employees to report to work raised concerns of not only payroll fraud, but efficiency and effectiveness of operations in City government.”
Federal employee from Waterville sentenced for accessing child pornography on work computer (Morning Sentinel)
“Talbot, 56, who worked for the U.S. Geological Survey’s New England Water Science Center in Augusta, was sentenced to time-served, five years of supervised release, and $38,000 in restitution.”
Topeka city official arrested for domestic battery (KSNT)
“The city placed Mawyin on administrative leave while it conducts a personnel investigation.”
Shelby Hewitt, woman accused of posing as Boston Public Schools student, faces new charges (WCVB)
“During this time, she allegedly collected a salary of $54,000 from her job as a social worker at Department of Children and Families.”
Pueblo City employee allegedly punches co-worker on city property, facing assault charge (KRDO)
“For multiple months after his arrest, Pinz was not placed on administrative leave, disciplined for his actions, or even fired from his job as a Radio Technician. That was until records requests were submitted to the city asking for Pinz’s employment status.”
SBI agents arrest former Chocowinity town official (Washington Daily News)
“While acting in her capacity as a town official, it was alleged that McRoy inflated her payroll and used town credit cards for personal purchases from 2015 to 2022. She’s alleged to have embezzled more than $500,000 during that time.”
MS Coast seafood expert accused of stealing $3 million. Here’s how lawsuit says he did it (Sun Herald)
“Veal worked for 35 years at Mississippi State University, retiring in 2005 as executive director of its Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi.”
Former Eldridge city clerk sentenced to 2 years probation for stealing city funds (WQAD)
“Benson did use the city-owned credit card to make unauthorized, personal purchases from Amazon, PayPal, Menards, AmeriGas, and other various vendors to acquire property.”
Former Warrick County Employee Arrested And Faces Felony Charges (WIKY)
“A tip about suspected misappropriated funds … led to an investigation and arrest.”
State Inspector General finds SCC administrator lied under oath (WSPA)
“[T]he office did recommend an HR inquiry and discipline for, ‘officials connected to false statements made while under oath.’”
Ex-INDOT manager must pay $2K fine for using state phone for adult chats (WRTV)
“[T]he Indiana Office of Inspector General received a complaint that alleged Breedlove had not worked his regularly scheduled hours and had used his state issued cellphone to access adult chats.”
Results of Investigation into A1C Texiera’s Unit following unauthorized disclosure of classified documents (U.S. Air Force)
“Teixeira … who has been indicted on six counts for the unauthorized disclosure of national defense information … is awaiting a trial date. “
Inspector General examines management of nearly $2 million for public housing residents (The Florida Times-Union)
“The Inspector General’s draft report recommends tightening the controls over the utility allowance program to better track how that utility allowance funding goes to pay for utilities.”