Posted on 03/09/2010 11:43:24 PM PST by Chet 99
By Max Zimbert
Published: Last Updated Tuesday, March 9, 2010 9:06 PM PST
A Burbank Unified School District teacher turned herself in Monday for having sex with a 14-year-old student from March to September last year, police said.
Amy Beck, 33, a sixth-grade teacher at Jordan Middle School, surrendered Monday afternoon to Burbank police with her lawyer, and was being held on $400,000 bail, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.
“We’re still trying to piece everything together, what happened, where, what kind of sex acts, how many, and how long it’s been going on,” he said. “She walked in with her attorney . . . and said, ‘Hey, I came to surrender for what I did.’”
Beck, a Burbank resident, was scheduled to be arraigned today in Burbank Superior Court. Prosecutors charged Beck with four counts of unlawful sex with a person under 16 and one count of oral copulation with a person under 16. Prosecutors will request that bail be set at $175,000, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
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Beck faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted.
The minor involved was 14 at the time, and is now 15, police said. It is unclear whether the student is enrolled in Burbank Unified, but he is no longer at Jordan Middle School, school officials said.
“We’re trying to do some investigating and follow up and make sure there are no other students [involved],” Quesada said. “It was a surprise, and we’re trying to get all the facts in the case.”
Beck’s attorney, Michael Williamson, said he expected her to plead not guilty.
“The simple fact is, until I know exactly what sort of exposure she might have . . . it would be foolish for me to have my client plead guilty,” he said. “The not-guilty plea is her statutory right. I can see the evidence and will have a chance to discuss the case with the district attorney, and that can’t happen until she’s charged.”
Beck had been teaching at Jordan for about 10 years, Principal Sharon Cuseo said.
“She’s a well respected and loved teacher,” she said. “We’re all shocked.”
Beck submitted her resignation Friday in a two- or three-sentence letter, Cuseo said.
“There was no explanation in her resignation letter. It was just that she was resigning immediately,” Cuseo said.
Beck taught English and social science. Administrators have a substitute in place to finish the school year.
District officials would not comment regarding potential legal liability, adding that such questions were speculative.
“We had no information until the Burbank Police Department contacted us,” said Gabe Soumakian, assistant superintendent for human resources. “We didn’t know why she resigned. It didn’t make sense, but we didn’t have any information to go along with it.”
Parents were unaware of the allegations Tuesday when they picked up their children in front of the school.
“It’s getting younger and younger,” said Dan Wright, a father of a sixth- and seventh-graders. “I can’t imagine how I’d react if my son or daughter was in that position with someone of authority — not to mention the impact on other students, because they’ll find out.”
Manuela Cansino said she worried about the effect on her grandson and his classmates.
“They’re going to be surprised,” she said. “They’ll be asking questions. It’s unbelievable.”
Not guilty! Set her free!
Why...that’s all that ever comes to mind for me...why?!
You’re an adult, they’re a child.
WHY?!!!
In Caleeeefornia they will make her principal by Friday.
Not guilty, your honor.
Guilty! But if I were on her jury I would try to get her off...Wait, that came out wrong. ;^)
“I can’t imagine how I’d react if my son or daughter was in that position with someone of authority...”
I know how I’d react.
split jury on this one...Not enough evidence insight..
“split jury on this one...Not enough evidence insight..”
I was thinking more like...Hung jury. Arrrrrr. :o)
Hrm, I think im gonna go upstairs and see if the lil woman wants to play Teacher.
lol...
OK... first we’re gonna have the males with the “where were those teachers when I was a kid” and all the jokes that go with that...
Then we’re gonna get the “you guys should be ashamed of yourself, this is an adult parasite preying on the children” types...
I’m sorta in the middle here. I am old enough to know this is not a good thing. However, I am also young enough to know that I would have walked for five miles, barefoot in winter if I knew a woman like that was waiting for me.
LOL!!!!!!!! hope your ‘Teacher’ was good to go....
Not Guilty!
But I’ll give her a good spanking...just because.
If found guilty of the charges against her, I hope she receives a long prison sentence.
Having some years of experience as a detective, and having taken the FBI sex crimes class, I’m still amazed by this string of young female teachers who have gone this route. Most of them would certainly would attract male attention from those of legal age.
Sex in a criminal sense can be defined as whatever feels good. So what would feel good about the teacher-student scenario?
1. The joy of educating young (minds) in new experiences.
2. The danger of risking family, career, freedom, everything if caught.
3. Social development transferal. Working closely with adolescents has caused a regression where the adult sees herself as part of the adolescent group.
4. Just perversion where the adult wants to molest and take the innocence of as many youngsters as possible.
5. Power and control over a powerless subject.
6. Self image as sex goddess with subject too inexperienced to know differently.
There are probably many more possibilities.
We simply have walked of the edge of the planet..
Our Faux leaders are a bunch of Gender Bender types and try to make the relationships of young men and the potential social and physical consequences for engaging in heterosexual relationships the same as for a minor female..
They simply are not..
Fire the Women yes.. Then forget it..
W
Don’t get all self-righteous. I would’ve tapped that fifteen years ago or so when I was that age.
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