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Teachers have bad month

Four educators arrested in that period alone

BY STEVEN MAYER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: smayer@bakersfield.com | Monday, Dec 17 2007 10:35 PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, Dec 18 2007 8:19 AM

One month. Four teachers arrested. It may sound like a bad dream -- or a bad movie -- but that's the case. During the month of December, Kern County law enforcement agencies arrested four area teachers in separate incidents.

One is suspected of making meth in the classroom and a second is charged with leading police on a car chase and trying to remove an officer's gun during the arrest.

A third teacher was arrested on misdemeanor charges of engaging in inappropriate banter with students, while the latest, a private school teacher, allegedly had oral sex with a minor student.

School and law enforcement authorities say the safety and well-being of students must come first, but they are also painfully aware that allegations of wrongdoing can ruin an educator's career.

Steve Gabbitas, a spokesman for the Bakersfield City School District where one of the teachers works, said once someone's name is associated with inappropriate behavior, it's almost impossible to shake it.

Even if prosecutors decide not to go forward with criminal charges, the damage is done, he said.

"It doesn't clear your name," Gabbitas said.

On the other hand, he added, the safety of students must come first.

Steve Alvidrez, chief of police for the Kern High School District, said allegations of moderate misbehavior or complaints against school staff may be handled by administrators at the school level.

"Once we determined some inappropriate conduct has been connected to a staff member, we would contact the appropriate police agency," he said. "They would do the investigation.

"We want to get to the truth, one way or another."

Both Alvidrez and Gabbitas said complaints or more serious allegations by students are taken seriously. Typically, the student will be interviewed by a principal or other administrator in an effort to determine what the complaint is and whether there is other evidence to support it.

It's really about using common sense, Alvidrez said.

"We wouldn't base an arrest on an allegation alone," said Bakersfield police Detective Mary DeGeare. "There has to be corroborating evidence."

Teachers and other education professionals are treated like anyone else, DeGeare said.

"We investigate all crimes the same," she said, "no matter who the suspect is."

Public school teachers are not necessarily alone when they face complaints or worse. If they are in a teachers union, union representatives are made aware and may assist teachers facing trouble.

"I don't think any decisions are made (regarding the employment status of teachers) without input from the teachers union," Gabbitas said. "The BETA (Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association) president talks with our superintendent on a regular basis."

Depending on the allegation -- and no two are identical -- interviewing other students or staffers may help ferret out the truth, Alvidrez said.

"There's almost always someone who knows something more," he said. "We want to give everyone fair treatment."

Arrest shocked school officials

In the case of Marshall Neal, Garces Memorial High School officials weren’t notified of the situation until Neal was taken into custody, according to John Fanucchi, president of the private Catholic school.

Neal is the teacher arrested on suspicion of having oral sex with a Garces student.

Students did not report the incident to the school and school officials do not know who the victim is, Fanucchi said.

Neal was placed on administrative leave as soon as officials found out he had been arrested and what the charges were, Fanucchi said. And the school isn’t doing its own investigation now.

Fanucchi said the school has “complete faith” that police will handle the investigation in a professional manner.

He added that he’d never had a situation of this magnitude happen in his 34 years at the school.

“I am saddened by the situation,” Fanucchi said. “We are doing everything we can at the school to support all the individuals involved in the investigation.”

Recent teacher arrests

Four local teachers have been arrested this month on allegations of wrongdoing. Here are their stories:

On Dec. 1, police arrested Shafter High School chemistry teacher Jeff Scheidemantel, 32, of Bakersfield on suspicion of trying to make methamphetamine in his school lab. Scheidemantel was arrested on suspicion of possession of precursor chemicals necessary to make methamphetamine, making meth and making meth endangering children, according to the police. A court date has not been set and he has not been charged with a crime, according to the Kern County Superior Court Web site.

On Dec. 5, sheriff’s deputies arrested Tom Vincent Adame, 41, after he allegedly offered to trace his penis on paper for two female students. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of annoying a child. Adame is a U.S. history teacher at Foothill High School and coach of the varsity boys basketball team. He posted bail and his arraignment is Dec. 28, according to the court Web site.

On Dec. 5, police arrested Elliot Hardamon Jr., 53, on suspicion of several felonies after he refused to pull over for an officer, according to law enforcement. Hardamon is a special education teacher at Curran Middle School. Hardamon was Tasered twice after he reached repeatedly for what police suspected was a weapon on the floor of his car. Police broke his car window to drag him out and he reached for and partially removed an officer’s gun, according to police. Officers Tasered him a third time and he complied. They found a loaded revolver in the car. He was charged with evading a police officer, removing a peace officer’s gun and carrying a concealed/unregistered gun, and several misdemeanors, including driving under the influence. His next court date is Dec. 20, according to the court Web site.

On Saturday, Bakersfield police arrested Garces Memorial High School teacher Marshall David Neal, 33, on suspicion of engaging in oral sex with a minor student, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. The student’s age and gender were not specified.

Neal has taught at Garces for 10 years, according to his profile on the school’s Web page. He teaches world history, computer classes and coaches the debate team.

Neal was released on bail Sunday. As of Monday evening, a court date had not been set for Neal. He declined a request for an interview and has not returned messages left on his phone.