Some of us have been wondering for a long time if any of the mandated reporters in Urbana's School District would be charged for failing to report suspicions about Jon White when they were first reported.
Today, three were charged:
Julia Rietz said Thursday that she filed misdemeanor charges Wednesday of failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect against former Urbana Superintendent Gene Amberg, former Thomas Paine elementary school principal Janice Bradley, and former Human Resources Director Carmelita Thomas for their failure to report their suspicions about inappropriate conduct by Jon White, a teacher at Thomas Paine.
Discuss.
Gordy, I posted about this in open fourm at 12:30 today, I also called Ch. 3 at 12:14 today to ask if they were aware of the story, "Dave" in in the news room,as usual they were clueless, Thanks to WDWS and NG who broke this this morning about 10:30.
Gordy, I will delete my post, or you can. I have no problem with that, : )
Nah. I'll leave it up with comments locked.
Normally I would have just promoted your post to the front page, but I already had mine done with a bit more information than yours, and I'm busy. :-)
Anyone have any idea what the possible penalties are for these charges?
I think it is a big message sent to districts in this region. Unfortunate (to say the least) that the districts need a message sent, but this is at least a start.
I don't know Janice Bradley, but Gene and Carmelita are longtime servants of District 116. It couldn't have happened to two nicer people, but they definitely blew it and need to be held accountable.
Wow. Surprising, but not completely unexpected....
"It couldn't have happened to two nicer people, but they definitely blew it and need to be held accountable."
Cosign. A message needs to be sent, and this is the only such prosecution I can recall in Illinois for failing to report as mandated, and I couldn't find anything with a quick google. This will hopefully be a statewide message.
And, to be honest, I had little faith that Reitz would ever charge anyone for failure to report in the White case. I'm glad I was wrong, and I hope the case is prosecuted fully.
I hope McLean County follows suit here. I too was surprised they filed charges, I'm glad they did. Although I think felony charges are more appropriate.
"Knowing and willful violation of reporting requirements is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first violation and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent violation;" according to this link.
How many seperate and individual complaints came to these three? I seem to recall reading that at least a couple of parents complained on at least two different occasions from reading the news stories. (please correct me if I am not accurate) I agree that if this is the case, a felony charge would at least give the prosecuter something to plea bargain off in court, otherwise this is just a publicity stunt by Reitz that will end in nothing more than a slap on the hand.
It's a police state and a minefield. I feel sorry for everyone, Everyone, everyone, involved except for Reitz who needs her fanny kicked out in the street.
losing their pension would be big
Felony charges are not an option for a first violation of the statute.
A Class A Misdemeanor carries up to a year in the county jail and/or up to a $2,500. fine.
I am very glad to see these charges filed. It needed to be done to restore accountability, if nothing else.
I am really glad to see Rietz moving forward with this. If the law is going to be effective, it needs to apply to everyone. These people broke the law and others got hurt as a result. This is not acceptable---especially for people entrusted with the safety of the community's children.
losing their pension would be big
It would be, but doesn't that only happen with felony convictions?
losing their pension would be big
That's a silly thing to argue for, in my opinion.
If anyone's curious, the lawsuit is up at http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/07/28/Urbana%20school.pdf
When did Rietz know that Gene Amberg, Carmelita Thomas, and Janice Bradley were quiet about Jon White's after school activities?
Seems to me Rietz was quoted in the papers and radio/TV shortly after the guilty plea that the district is going to be in trouble on this one. If so, she may have knew months, if not a year ago, that Bradley, Thomas, and Amberg were silent about Mr. White. Why did she delay in filing the charges and is this what aiding and abetting a pedophile is really worth: a misdemeanor?
The WCIA news story said that Rietz's first priority was putting the White case to bed. It probably wouldn't have made sense to charge the others until White was convicted.
I'm glad that the majority of people who post on this website have no real capacity to do much of anything, other than bitch or whine. Don't take offense if it doesn't apply to you. There's just waaaaay too many people who seem to be able to take complex issues and break them down into one or two sentence answers.
The WCIA news story said that Rietz's first priority was putting the White case to bed.
Odd choice of metaphor.
The whole thing seems like a witch hunt to me, and a witch doing the hunting.
Damned if she don't, and damned if she do. SOP for public life.
The unique thing about this case is Rietz is willing to offend the polite middle class for "tough-on-crime" appearances during an upcoming election. As usual, however, Rietz will also adhere to country-club-professional-courtesy and won't put any educator in jail (other than White) over kids getting abused- contradicting her website claiming to be the champion of sex-crime victims.
Justice for sex-crime victims will take a backseat to the bigger priority in Champaign County which is jail is reserved for the poor and the minority-only. These misdemeanors are, like Jamar Smith's case, just for show so all y'all Republicans will hand her a few votes missing from the Democrats this time around. Rietz' voting bloc might need some shoring up from some crossover votes- hence the media-circus trial in the News-Gazette, et al. Who needs to be a real trial lawyer when you can just try the case for the TV cameras long before a trial ever occurs? A show of hands as to who thinks the 3 Friends of a Pedophile are already guilty. Amberg, Thomas, and Bradley ought to file a motion for a new venue just to see what her publicity stunts are really worth.
The whole thing seems like a witch hunt to me, and a witch doing the hunting.
Come to think of it, a tolerant guy like you would have fit in well in Salem in 1692.
Damned if she don't, and damned if she do. SOP for public life.
Yup.
"A show of hands as to who thinks the 3 Friends of a Pedophile are already guilty."
Seriously, Dude, what the heck are you talking about?
"Seriously, Dude, what the heck are you talking about?"
I'm talking about the media exposure in this case. Amberg, Bradley, and Thomas are already guilty in the public's mind, (i.e. potential jury from Champaign County) and therefore, no trial is needed to find proof of guilt. We've already been told how guilty they are by numerous press releases and interviews out of the State's Attorney's office.
"We've already been told how guilty they are by numerous press releases and interviews out of the State's Attorney's office."
Um, could you maybe point out some of these "numerous press releases and interviews" from the SA telling us how guilty the defendents are? I don't recall seeing much of anything in that regard until the charges were filed, and even then it was pretty standard pro forma stuff.
There were a number of times in the last 18 months when the SA's office was asked about it, and the answer was always something to the effect of "under review." No guilt or blame, no accusations or recriminations, nor even any implications, just the normal, professional, noncommittal sort of response. In fact, the SA consistently caught flak for a perception in some quarters that she might be underplaying or underemphasizing or even ignoring it.
The whole thing seems like a witch hunt to me, and a witch doing the hunting.
Come to think of it, a tolerant guy like you would have fit in well in Salem in 1692
We dont have to "hunt" very far to find some real "witches" in Urbana.
It is true enough that I don't find much utility in discriminating at all between pedophilia and homosexuality. Actually I do think that legalized sodomy is in some ways much much worse and more harmful to the fabric of the community. However I dont see incarceration as being the appropriate treatment for either of those sociopathologic diseases, any more than incarceration is appropriate as a treatment for a broken arm, or for post-traumatic stress disorder, or other soundness of mind disturbances.
Reitz is like the foolish repairman having only a hammer in her toolbox, visualises every problem as a nail.
"Reitz is like the foolish repairman having only a hammer in her toolbox, visualises every problem as a nail."
That is a pretty vague complaint. I'm not sure what specifically you are concerned about. The State's Attorney's primary responsibility in criminal proceedings is to present the evidence to the court, according to the requirements of the law. It is up to the court (and the legislature) to prescribe the remedies. The SA can advise and/or advocate, but the primary responsibility and the final say belongs to the judges and juries.
Kcin: "Hate hate hate hate" excommunicated
Kcin: "Hate hate hate hate" excommunicated
Xian:
How is it that you construe my recommendation for therapy as "hate to the 4th power"?
Isnt therapy much more compassionate than sending in the dogs of the judicial-prison-industrial complex?
It is true enough that I don't find much utility in discriminating at all between pedophilia and homosexuality. Actually I do think that legalized sodomy is in some ways much much worse and more harmful to the fabric of the community.
Right. Now that I see the clear logic of it in print, how could I ever have made a distinction between two grown men having consentual anal sex, and a grown man having vaginal sex with a 6 year old girl. The community is knitting together before my eyes as I absorb reasoning.
Now that I have this thought memorialized I know that I can always go back to it, and if Iever find myself agreeing with it, I will know it is time eat the barrel of favorite pistol.
Reitz is like the foolish repairman having only a hammer in her toolbox, visualises every problem as a nail.
That mean old State's Attorney, always bringing charges against criminals. Why doesn't she rewrite the laws, or issue pardons, or bake cookies?
Ask the families of the victims if they think that this could have been prevented. The real question is why the S A of McClean county isnt stepping up to the plate. After all if the schools over there had done their job, he woudnt have foisted his activities on the kids in Urbana
The real question is why the S A of McClean county isnt stepping up to the plate.
He's unopposed in November, no need for free publicity.
What strikes me about this and the filing of lawsuits by some of the parents is whether this is the best thing for the children. The perpetrator is in prison, the school system has changed its hiring procedures and policies related to situations such as the one involved in this case. What is to be gained? Is it worth dragging the children through more legal proceedings?
I have had the unfortunate experience of having to turn in a person who was well thought of in a community (a long way from here) who was a pedophile. Pedophiles are very, very convincing and usually do not raise alarm with the other adults around them. That is how they gain access to children. Many people did not believe me when I warned them that he was under suspicion because, as they would say, "He doesn't look like a pedophile." I had to warn the school and the local Boy Scouts. The Boy Scout leader did not believe me and I had him call the Chief of Police for verification. I guess we want to believe that sick people will somehow stick out, but they do not.
Yes, the principal and others who were alerted in Urbana should have contacted the authorities. I did call the police and the human services departments in my situation. It did not speed up the prosecution of the individual involved. He did finally end up in prison but it was a horrible and stressful experience and I would not want to drag it out for a child any further than absolutely necessary. There is little to be gained from revenge.
The only reason to bring this to trial is to have a public airing of what happened.
Any of the three, if convicted, should be fined some nominal amount like $300 or $500
Michael Fuerst
for once I agree with MJF
So you basically think that its ok for someone who is mandated to report suspected child abuse to just not do anything thereby having the risk of others being victims who should have been.
I would assume you would feel the same way if it was your child who was the victim. How would you have handled this case Mr. Farney? I think that not only should the folks who knew about it be charged, but the people in McClean county as well... After all, if they had done their job ( the schools) then maybe we wouldnt have victims in Champaign County.
The whole entire point is to protect the children. My experience, when my children were in the Urbana Schools is that the administrators often told parents they do not understand or the is issue was too complicated for them. I do not know who said what to who in this case. However, the "circle the wagons" response from administrators is typical. I can ONLY IMAGINE, but my experience leads me to conclude if I were to have approached them with a complaint, similar to this case, they would have looked the other way, or offered that I really did not know the facts. My thoughts, and only my thoughts.
Hallelujah !! On the other hand, how could anyone disagree with me?
Michael Fuerst
(Click here for Urbana postage stamps, T-shirts and bumper stickers.)
A short stay in the Champaign County Jail, just do Mr. Amberg some good, He can get to know many of the failed products of Urbana Schools that reside there from time to time,,,,maybe he can receive a lesson on the value of fruits and veggies while inside.
What strikes me about this and the filing of lawsuits by some of the parents is whether this is the best thing for the children. The perpetrator is in prison, the school system has changed its hiring procedures and policies related to situations such as the one involved in this case. What is to be gained? Is it worth dragging the children through more legal proceedings?
That's a tough call to make. I can only surmise that the parents are trying to make the best out of a horrible situation.
What the parents do not want is children testifying or being interogated. Lawsuits can be settled out of court.
Michael Fuerst is correct (oh my, what am I saying?) the best that can be hoped for from a trial is a review of how a teacher was allowed to continue preying on children.
If that's the case, that explains the opposite when Rietz' batallion of legal eagles refuse to take a case to trial to hide what happened. Case in point: The Sgt. Myers Torture case where Rietz quickly swept all under the rug as fast as possible (with cash payouts to one of the victims, and an offer of money to another [refused]) in order to prevent the County from 4 possible lawsuits from 4 different victims of Sgt. Myers' "inappropriate use" of a taser that Sherriff Walsh ignored.
Unlike the White case, the victims of Myers did not have the means to hire private attorneys to negotiate the civil lawsuits.
" ... the victims of Myers did not have the means to hire private attorneys to negotiate the civil lawsuits."
Anon, this is not true. If there is a case to win most attorneys will be more than glad to take it on contingency. That no attorney would take it tells you much about the likely result.
Don't worry, amberg and the others will be cashing those mega pension checks with nothing more than a tiny slap on the wrist. How disgracefull to accept such a huge batch of cash from the taxpayers, and absolutely no penalty.
Don't worry, amberg and the others will be cashing those mega pension checks with nothing more than a tiny slap on the wrist. How disgracefull to accept such a huge batch of cash from the taxpayers, and absolutely no penalty.
Again, with the complete and utter lack of understanding of PENSION systems from jOHNbOY. A regular ASS of all trades, KNOWLEDGABLE of none...
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At some point we have to trust the government. - redstatewannabe on 2008-06-12 at 1:14pm
".... a felony charge would at least give the prosecuter something to plea bargain off in court, otherwise this is just a publicity stunt by Reitz that will end in nothing more than a slap on the hand."
Read the paper everyday, all Rietz wants to do is plea bargain. It is a win in her eyes and that is all she is interested in. Rietz is running more of a Let's Make A Deal show than a prosecutor's office.
What will be her next big media story?
Read the paper everyday, all Rietz wants to do is plea bargain. It is a win in her eyes and that is all she is interested in.
Of course she's going to plea bargain many cases if she can. Taking cases to trial consumes a lot of time and resources and her office has to keep things moving along. In cases like Jon White's, having to testify could be very hard on the victims. And AFAIK, a plea bargain *is* a win for the SA, because it involves a plea of guilty.
Most people would be surprised how few criminal cases actually go to trial. Of the 7,000 criminal cases filed each year, (felonies and misdemeanors), less than a hundred are actually heard in front of a jury.
It's not really the SA's choice. They can make a plea offer ("Look you jerk, we all know you did it, save the taxpayers some time and money, accept responsibility and there'll be a small reward in it for you.") but the defendants do not have to accept it. Sure, the SAs don't have to offer a plea, but it really is in everyone's best interest for them to do so. That so many cases end in a plea bargain means that so many of the defendants realize this is simply their best option.
It should also be mentioned that someone like Amberg is going to be seriously damaged by pleading guilty to these charges. His legacy as Superintendent, which would have been really pristine, is going to be tarnished forever. I also think he is doing work at the U of I and Parkland these days. Not sure how a guilty plea will go over with those employers.
Like I said before, it couldn't have happened to nicer people who have worked for decades to serve USD. But they appear to have really blown it on this one and deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.