Tacoma public school teacher Nelson Hanton, who was arrested Friday for having sex with a 14-year-old student, has a history of sexual misconduct. In spite of the fact that the Tacoma school district reprimanded him in 1995 for coming on to female students, he was allowed to keep teaching. We can thank the Washington Education Association for defending the rights of sexual predators who also happen to be public school teachers.
In 2002, KIRO radio host Dave Ross named Nelson Hanton a Hometown Hero. I have no reason to believe that Ross knew about Hanton's tawdry history at that time. But you have to wonder how many other perverts are hiding out in the public school system, protected by school officials and the unions.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 16, 2005 10:32 AM | Email ThisJust ignore the fact that they are children -- unless the accused perpetrators are Catholic Priests, conservative politicians. or subjects for appeals to liberal social experimentation.
Posted by: Amused by liberal depravity on June 16, 2005 10:41 AMYou beat me to the punch. Also, when pedophilia is perpetrated by a priest/minister, in the eyes of liberals, it's almost sanctioned by the church. Especially by a celebate priest, their argument being that if the Catholics allowed the priests to marry or become involved with a same sex partner, they would stop molesting children. When one of their institution's members partakes in this sick act they slap his hand/her hand a few dozen times and call it good.
Posted by: Jeffro on June 16, 2005 10:51 AMThere should be a no-tolerance policy on sexual offenders that are also school teachers. Like...one strike you're out. You'd think that parents would be able to send their kids off to school each day without having second thoughts.
Posted by: Kiddo on June 16, 2005 11:17 AMInteresting question about how many perverts are hiding out in schools. But, why do you only focus on schools and why do you use this unfortunate incident to attack the teachers union. Are you as intrigued about the Mayor West scandal? Does that make you wonder how many perverts hang out in the Republican party?
Your use of this terrible incident to attack the union is shameful.
Russ
Posted by: russ on June 16, 2005 11:30 AM"IT ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN!! THEY ARE OUR FIRST PRIORITY!!" Yea. Right.
And the peer teachers? Are the turning a blind eye? Thanks, WA legislators for protecting us. We have to be our own posse. Olympia is a useless appendage.
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on June 16, 2005 12:51 PMSTEFAN: You got that right. Perverts hang out in the public school system AND in unions. For a fascinating insite, go to:
www.corrupt-union.com
and read the "Deposition of Allan B. Darr."
Mr. Darr is a former school teacher in WA (having graduated from Western in Bellingham), a groupie of WA's teacher's unions, AND now a business manager of one of the biggest labor unions in WA (IUOE). Learn more about this disgusting individual by reading his "deposition" and other related topics at the same website.
ps. Mr. Darr knows a lot about election fraud too, having stolen his current position with IUOE by commiting election fraud against his own brother union members.
Posted by: Larry on June 16, 2005 01:05 PMSTEFAN: You got that right. Perverts hang out in the public school system AND in unions. For a fascinating insite, go to:
www.corrupt-union.com
and read the "Deposition of Allan B. Darr."
Mr. Darr is a former school teacher in WA (having graduated from Western in Bellingham), a groupie of WA's teacher's unions, AND now a business manager of one of the biggest labor unions in WA (IUOE). Learn more about this disgusting individual by reading his "deposition" and other related topics at the same website.
ps. Mr. Darr knows a lot about election fraud too, having stolen his current position with IUOE by commiting election fraud against his own brother union members.
Posted by: Larry on June 16, 2005 01:06 PMI have zero tolerance for this behavior and if Nelson is guilty he should be tossed away for a long time, never allowed anywhere near children again. But I know Nelson, and this is out of character for him.
From what I have read in the media it doesn't look good for Nelson. If I get the chance I will tell him to come clean tell the whole truth, to assert his innocence or confess his guilt. If he is innocent he should fight like hell, if guilty take his lumps. But for now I will stand with my friend.
The other problem I have is ever since Wenatchee, I need more than a reasonable doubt to convict anyone of sex crimes against children. I need physical evidence of a crime, I need witnesses not just the victim's testimony. The state so bolloxed the Wenatchee case, and knowingly perpetuated the case once it started falling apart that I look very careful at state claims in these cases.
I still smell a sense of witch hunt around child sex cases. They proceed on thin evidence and hearsay. We need good solid prosecution of sex offenders, not pursuits based emotion. Sex offenses against children are emotional and for that very reason we need keep very cool in the prosecution. I am no less emotional, I think we should consider capital punishment for sex offenders, I see no evidence of rehabilitation for them, and the risk to our children is too great. At the very least child sex offenders should never see the light of day or breath free again, after a conviction.
Again the State of Washington and it's subsidiary agencies through malfeasance, corruption, incompetence have made what should be the routine prosecution of criminals more difficult. The WEA and their ilk don't help by covering for teachers who have no place in the class room.
Regardless of Nelson's guilt he is ruined by this. If my friend is innocent as I believe and will continue to believe. Right now it is not looking good for him, I will not blindly stand by and continue to assert his innocence in the face of evidence. I will then condemn Nelson's actions, and call for vigorous punishment.
The Nelson I know is a good man, and this accusations does not fit the man I know. I will pray and seek truth and justice in case, for Nelson, his accusers, and ultimately a system in Washington where I do not have to be conflicted because of the history of misconduct in sex cases and the history of a good man.
Posted by: JCM on June 16, 2005 01:56 PMGood man! ( woman?)
Posted by: Bob on June 16, 2005 02:13 PMAnd as for the witch hunt aspect, the sexual harrasment policies of the Tacoma school district make it so that they have to do something if there is an allegation. This may have been one of these "have to arrest somebody" deals.
I'll accept the verdict from a court, but this isn't fun to watch.
Yay, FWPS!
Enron was crooked, so all corporations are crooked.
Jim West is a pedophile, therefore all Republicans are pedophiles.
Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict, therefore all right-wing talk show hosts are doped up.
Gee--this is fun...
As the above posts by people I have never agreed with show, these issues are much more complex than Mr. Sharkansky makes them out to be.
Everything in Mr. Sharkansky's links indicates that the union protected members from allegations. Isn't that what an union should do? Especially when allegations like this are so distructive to a person.
It is easy enough to make an accusation. Let the system play out, and let Mr. Hanton have his defense. If he is found guilty, let him go away for a very long time. But don't smear everyone you disagree with just because an allegation is raised about one person.
Mr. Sharkansky:
Having read the posts of some of your more conservative posters who indicate that this issue is a bit more complex than your simplistic blogging suggest, maybe you want to rethink your methods? Was it really worth the political points you hoped to score to have posted this thread? And do you really think that any person accused of any crime, no matter how hideous, deserves no defense?
Posted by: JDB on June 16, 2005 03:10 PMAs JDB said, unions exist to represent workers. Do they make mistakes, yes. Do you? Yes. Unions exist because businesses exist solely to make a profit, not represent their workers. Those companies which treat their employees like family, like Costco, don't need unions. Those that treat their employees like chattel, like Wal-Mart, do.
Posted by: bfree2think on June 16, 2005 03:24 PMI’m with Jarhead and I won’t even need the baseball bat.
If he is guilty, he should be sent away. But before rushing to judgment, read Dogbert's and JCM's post. Lets make sure there is a strike. Let the system work.
Posted by: JDB on June 16, 2005 03:57 PMEven? You mean even though he is a Republican?
At least with the teachers it is mandatory that they get reported to the ESD's. With students the offenders have protections that will make you sick. Your student could be sent to the bathroom at the same time as one of these students and you have no right to know who that student is. My 1st grader was sexually assaulted and they didn't want to give me the name of the offender and I'm a school board member.
Folks, it's ugly out there and the state needs to come up with a solution. Currently, our law is interpreted as the right to education of those who commit the crimes trumps the right of a student to have a safe environment for being educated.
Posted by: Doug on June 16, 2005 05:08 PMI'm a staunch Republican and agree that if he's found guilty, the punishment should be severe. However, this really doesn't seem to fit Nelson's personality.
I know being a "good guy", doesn't make you innocent, but to give you an idea of his character, when I was younger and playing competitive tennis, he volunteered to give free tennis lessons twice a week for any low-income students that wanted to play.
In addition, he was always trying to get everyone involved in the game of chess. He'd use his own money to take kids to tournaments and encourage them to get involved.
These allegations also shocked my sister (who's now in her twenties). She played tennis with Nelson since she was 10. She's a very good-looking young lady and he never did anything inappropriate towards her.
This black man who was adopted and pulled himself out of the ghetto to graduate from USC has done more for the Tacoma community than 99% of the other teachers/coaches out there. I just pray that he didn't taint all of his accomplishments with these foolish actions. Either way, he'll have a scarlet letter on his chest for the rest of his life.
You're in my thoughts Nelson.
Posted by: Kire on June 16, 2005 05:48 PMIN 2002 WHEN DAVE ROSS NAMED THIS TEACHER A HERO, I CALLED HIS SHOW AND CONFRONTED DAVE ROSS. I WAS DISMISSED AS A WACK JOB!!!!! I SENT HIM AN E-MAIL TODAY TO REMIND HIM TODAY....NO REPLY AS I FIGURED THERE WOULD BE.
Posted by: TACOMA PHLASH on June 16, 2005 05:58 PMI'm sorry, I didn't know it was part of the liberal agenda to let the system work and not rush to judgment. I thought we, as Americans, can agree with that.
Is it part of the conservative agenda to lynch a person based upon only an allegation?
As I said, if he is guilty, send him away, but let the system work. Are you really opposed to that, or just because I'm to the left of you, you have to disagree with me?
Posted by: JDB on June 16, 2005 05:59 PMNow as for the WEA, they do have a track history of providing protection/cover for school employees/pedaphiles state wide, including Mary Kay Letourneau.
Posted by: Mike P on June 16, 2005 06:56 PMThe power that public school staff can wield is frightening! Over the years, I have overheard - on many occasions - staff discuss parents as though they were all inept or abusers! The attitude among public school staff is that we - the parents - are truly unfit for the job and they - the elite educators - are the saviors of the children! They actually believe this!
The atmosphere among teachers and staff in the public school system - with regard to their disdain for parents, makes it truly ripe for all sorts of abuse! This brings to mind the ridiculous laws in our country - allowing a public school to arrange for our daughters to have abortions without parental notification!
How convenient for the pedophile! The evidence is destroyed - no charges to be filed - the district can't be sued - and if the parents become trouble - the school can make false allegations of abuse or neglect and have CPS take the kids away!
There must be a break in that chain!
With respect to those who see a person as a pillar of the community and a great guy.....that is the usual MO for a pedophile. They are extremely charming - especially toward adults. They are masters of gaining trust and they will usually volunteer in childrens activities. They are Scout leaders, after school activity counselors, coaches, teachers, Boys and Girls club volunteers, YMCA employees, ect.... They will appear overly concerned with a childs circumstances - at home, school, play, etc..and will begin their grooming process right under the parents nose as they gain trust and the reputation of being a great guy!
I'm sorry - but from what I've read so far in the above post's - from people who know this guy...he sounds like a classic.....
Posted by: Deborah on June 16, 2005 07:29 PMI am sure you will say you allowed the priests the same right of a fair trial, but from what I have seen the liberal view depends on which way the wind blows.
As for my actions, and the anger I projected I ask that you forgive me for the way I responded. As for you I pray that God will bless you as well as he has me when I try to what is right in the confines of man’s and God’s law’s. As for the school teacher I say and eye for and eye!
I don't like the ease of nor the speed at which abuse allegations go wild these days--but my wrath at possibly discovering MY child a victim meets or exceeds Jarhead's "bat therapy;"
Our only hope is our constant vigilance of the school system's powers we grant to them and our commmon, everyday parental observations and gut senses--
after all, who was that famous "innocent" pop star that dangled his kid from a balcony? I made my decision long ago after seeing that cutesy, downplayed, liberal news clip;
If I were reading about this case I would say yup, without knowing Nelson, I'd say, yep there is another one.
I read the '95 reprimand. Comments and inappropriate touching. I have a lot of trouble with the whole verbal harassment issue. I got in trouble once for creating a hostile work environment. My crime: asking a female subordinate to follow the company dress code.
Further muddying the water is the WEA and school districts failures in this area. Add on top past witch hunts. And the picture further clouds.
Take the Michael Jackson case. I think he probably did the deed. The problem is the witness are impeachable, the evidence lacking. Had I been on the jury I probably would have acquitted him, based on the evidence.
Like I said previously, I am conflicted, on this one.
Posted by: JCM on June 16, 2005 08:33 PMSo I have to agree with the troll on this one. Let the system run it's course, keep your eye on the case, and accept the final verdict. If he's guilty, the law will punish him, and if he's not, there's something else very foul going on. Either way, this stinks.
Posted by: Dogbert on June 16, 2005 09:05 PMWould you be upset about this? I believe most parents wouldn't allow it to continue. Would your reaction change if I told you that this student was a girl? It shouldn't. The Dean of Students seems to think that it mitigates the crimes, and allows this girl to continue bullying and physically assaulting other students. If this had been a boy who had committed these acts, we all know that he would have been expelled immediately, and have faced possible criminal charges in juvenile court.
Plain and simple, it is assault, the King County Sheriff should have been called, and charges filed. I believe it could be classified as a sexual assault. If the schools want to push their liberal agendas, what the hell happened to equal rights? It is "okay" to assault and humiliate other students, as long as you are both of the same sex, or do you have to be a girl?
Posted by: Michelle on June 16, 2005 09:26 PMBwanafriend
Posted by: bwanafriend on June 16, 2005 09:27 PMSeriously though, give the guy his day in court...if he's found guilty then he should never, ever be allowed to teach under age children again.
Posted by: More Tax $ for schools on June 16, 2005 09:31 PMArchdioceses are privately funded -- free will offerings and one can choose to withdraw the offerings.
School districts are tax funded -- by threat of force. You don't have any choice, like it or not. (Moving to another district won't help since you'll be taxed not much different anyway.)
Detroit has a special on sexual predators at public schools in Michigan. 6 out of 14 teachers convicted in the stories are still certified to teach in Detroit public schools!
According to US Dept of Education: 1 in 10 children will encounter sexual misconduct from a school employee.
So, when will Seattle newspapers come out with compressive report on WA public schools as eagerly as they have done to the Catholic church? Or is the teacher's union too strong?
Posted by: DannyHSDad on June 16, 2005 09:56 PMI have no reason to doubt the detectives, and prosecutor are sincere in bringing charges against Nelson. I have no reason to doubt Nelson when he says "innocent." Just wait and see.
I can't stop thinking of his wife and kids, what they most be going through. My wife has known Nelson's wife since before either of use was married.
If this true Nelson has betrayed a lot of trusts, placed in him by a lot of different people. This is personally painful to see a trusted and admired friend accused of such things. It is more painful to think that he may have done them.
It stinks a whole lot of ways. And the stink 'aint goin' away any time soon.
Posted by: JCM on June 16, 2005 09:56 PMI immediately called the principal. The principal said she was aware of the incident, the bully had been punished and apologized. End of subject. She tried to make me feel bad for calling about this. I lost it. I quietly and calmly told the principal, if my daughter came to me with one more report of being bullied by this girl, I would let my daughter's lawyer talk to the school. (No, my daughter doesn't have a lawyer, but I would have gotten her one in an instant.) Amazing. The bully was moved to alt school and eventually dropped out her sophomore year. This bully had numerous complaints leveled against her.
It gets worse...
Come to find out, this principal was not preying on school children, she was preying on other married male teachers. That's all she was worried about. Suddenly she was on paid administrative leave, a letter was sent home to the parents saying she was having "asthma" attacks and sure enough at the end of the school year, she had to "leave" the area to be near her mother.
This principal was not worried about the children. She was worried about what married teacher she could get into her bed.
The worst part of this...
She supposedly moved back to the west side of the state and is a principal somewhere over there. I am not joking.
Posted by: cc on June 16, 2005 10:21 PMMichelle, you should encourage the parents to file charges. You would have a lot of support.
Posted by: South County on June 16, 2005 10:49 PMI know he is innocent until proven guilty. I know he is a friend and acquaintance of a few posters here....but.....if today's news report is true.....then he was trying to remove a piece of evidence that his victim reported was used during his crime. And if he was so comfortable using toys and props during his molestations.....I'd say he leans more toward the serial pedophile....
This wasn't his first time.
Posted by: Deborah on June 16, 2005 11:34 PMSeveral parents and students are emailing all the other students/parents they know in the school, but so far the dean and school board remain "untouchable", and their decision stands.
I wrote to John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur, but they haven't replied. The parents here are hoping, and think it would be an "interesting topic".
We saw this girl at Maple Valley Days, and she came up to our daughter and asked her what her last name was (because of our email campaign), acting tough even in front of parents. Imagine her once she gets to highschool, after learning there are no serious consequences for her actions, and having zero respect for authority.
Our only hope in getting a resolution from this district is the public becoming aware of what they are doing, and holding them accountable. We do pay their salaries, after all.
Unfortunately, thanks to the legal framework of unions, it isn't so easy to have any say. Yes, your tax dollars "at work" -- tax funded employees are protected by tax paid legislators, reaffirmed by tax paid judges. So called "checks and balances" are stacked against us tax payers -- and to think that we are given token "votes" to help us feel better about getting something done (while nothing fundamentally changes).
BTW, did you know that U.S.A. was founded with anti-tax rebellion? I realize that Boston is 3000+ miles away from Seattle but they had this thing called a Tea Party in 1773 to protest high taxes without representation. And the rest, they say, is history! :-)
Posted by: DannyHSDad on June 17, 2005 06:21 AMI'd ask you to think of a friend you've know for 15-20 years. Someone trusted, valued, and outstanding in the community. Then put that friend of yours in this news story.
That's where I am.
I've watched stories like this in the past. Where friends and family stand up for the accused. And think to myself, ya' right, you should of known. We'll here I am standing with the accused. I am just saying the accusation are not consistent with the character of the man I know.
Either he is innocent and is the person I know, or he has betrayed a lot of people. Again Deborah, think of how you'd feel if that trusted valued friend was accused of a betrayal of trust of this magnitude.
Posted by: JCM on June 17, 2005 07:16 AMI'd like to frame a third alternative. First I'd like to say that it is possible that the allegations are unfounded, but I am going to draw out my hypothesis on the assumption that it is true becuase I want to suggest HOW it could have become true.
Not all adults who end up having sex with minors start out as predators, pedaphiles, sexial deviants or anything of the sort. It is quite possible that they start out as quite well adjusted normal people. A lot of things can happen over a long period of time to create temptations and opportunities that can lead someone down a path they did not set out to walk.
Our culture is getting more and more sexualized. First, You can't watch most TV shows, and often more so, the commercials without being inundated with sexualized females, either in action, dress or "suggestion". Second there is the sexualization of our young people. When clothing outfitters make thong underwear for girls under the age of ten, and parents dress their girls in mini skirts and high boots (I'm not going to tell you what people call those boots, but if you know, you know what I mean). I find it very hard to find dresses in my 5 YO's size that go below the knees. Most of them don't even go half way down her thighs. We often buy 2-3 sizes larger because of that. But anyway, I see so many middle school aged children dressed in such a way as to highlight their sexuality. Skimpy tops, mini skirts, underwear showing above the pants or skirts, etc. Third, our children are beginning sexual maturation at younger and younger ages.
There is a reson sex sells. Men are "affected" by it in potent and sometimes destructive ways. We have created a powder keg, and then we start getting upset when someting blows up.
I don't think the schools are so much full of predators waiting for an opportunity but rather full of temptations and people at risk of succumbing to those temptations.
It is quite possible that all Mr Henton wanted was to teach and train young people, that it was simply what he was called to do in his life. However, there is a certain level of euphoria that comes from that kind of work, and that euphoria can sometimes lead to other feelings. Then, when some students flirt (and they will) with the teacher, or dress provocatively, and maybe a little spat with the wife at home occurs, temptation can set in. Tempation is something we can all relate to, but when temptation meets opportunity, that is when the real risks occur. In Mr. Hanton's case, there was simply too many opportunities. (Based on what I have gathered) Somewhere along the line, temptation and opportunity and vulnerabilty merged and he began to fantacise(sp?) or obsess or otherwise open his mind up to possibilities he never intended.
Because he spent so much time alone with some of these students, the chances of him succumbing to temptation escalated 100 fold.
Just as a background note, I have been invovled in youth and young adult ministries at my church for 5 years. I have been tutoring and teaching math to home schools students for 4 years. I am in constant contact with young people. I and my Church elders are fully aware of the risks of temnptation, and we have clear, clear rules about adult child and cross gender contact. (It's not just about kids, BTW, we don't allow two adults to meet without accountability). Anyway, in our sunday school classes, two adults are always required, there are windows on every door, and no adult is allowed to meet with a child alone. This is not because we believe there are pedophiles all over our church but because we know the nature of man and the temptations that can occur.
For my case, I make sure that any youth Bible study, or any tutoring that I do occurs when at least one parent present. I simply do not create an opportunity. In addition, that also prevents the opportunity for false accusations. No one could ever accuse me falsely of misconduct because of the accountability.
My friends, this is the ONLY way to preventing this kind of misconduct. No matter how kind, and upstanding a person is, they can be brought down by temptations, and we only do them favors if we build in strict accountability.
Posted by: Eyago on June 17, 2005 08:21 AMJDH - The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago. I met his wife on a couple of occasions, a very sweet and charming lady. She doesn't deserve this. Regardless of the final resolution, this is such a destructive thing. You're right, based on reports in the press, it doesn't look good. It's not impossible that the Pierce County prosecutors' office is on a witchhunt (it's happened before), but not likely.
Posted by: Dogbert on June 17, 2005 09:00 AMThe pedophilia perpetrated by the Catholic priests was sanctioned by the Church. The Church knew the priests were pederasts yet they shipped them from parish to parish. When they got sued, they shipped documents and people to Vatican City (Cardinal Law anyone?) The Vatican thinks the American sexual abuse scandal was just a witch hunt.
Lately, the Seattle archdiocese paid $18 million to settle a lawsuit with the estate of a man who killed himself after being repeatedly molested by a priest. Quite honestly, the Seattle archdiocese would have filed bankruptcy rather than let the case go to trial, especially so now that it's accepted for dioceses to do so. Personally, I don't put money in the collection plate anymore, but instead I give it to groups like St. Vincent de Paul who help people who are about to be, say, evicted because Patriotic American Megacorp outsourced their job to India so the CEO can buy a 60' yacht.
Posted by: Sound Thinker on June 17, 2005 10:21 AMI would be outraged! Especially if my long time friend perpetrated this crime on children! Especially if I found out there had been previous complaints or reports about his behavior! I would feel used - as though our friendship was merely a prop - used by this man as a building block of false credibility. I would be in the court room during the trial - just to show my outrage and disapproval of his actions.
I would do this if it were my brother or a spouse!
Sure - teeny-boppers have been looking sexy for decades now. But that is like blaming a rape victim for her rape because she wore a short skirt! Are we going to now start blurring the lines here because teenagers are sexually attractive? What are we going to do now that 10 year olds are developing breasts? Are they going to become fair game too?
We need to take sex out of the public school system all together! The schools have become saturated with sexual curriculum. From art class to drama to history and of course, science! From elementary to their senior years - the kids are plagued with sex from the schools!
I am a parent. I have been raising kids for 30 years. My youngest is still in elementary school.
I have seen too much - and most of it over the past 10 years! It's getting worse for kids in this sick, liberal world!
I have no mercy for pedophiles.
Well, I guess you were proven wrong there my friend. I always thought he was a bit too friendly, and wondered about his family as well. Somehow, the shock of the news wore off about a week after. Sorry to say, but he's been convicted for sure.
Posted by: Shana on November 16, 2005 09:13 PM