XPost: ba.politics, dc.media, soc.penpals   
   XPost: alt.burningman   
   From: child-rapist-liberals@democrats.org   
      
   ROSE CITY, Mich. – When Rose City middle school teacher Neal   
   Erickson pleaded guilty to molesting one of his students a while   
   back, most observers expected an open-and-shut case with the   
   school community rallying around the teenage victim.   
      
   And in some ways it was. Erickson was sentenced to 15-30 years   
   in prison for carrying on a sexual relationship with a boy in   
   his young teens between 2006 and 2009. That should have been the   
   end of the horrific tale.   
      
   But seven teachers kept the controversy alive by rallying behind   
   the rapist, going so far as to write letters to the sentencing   
   judge, seeking leniency on his behalf. The letters were posted   
   on a local blog, WBRC Teachers.   
      
   Perhaps the most disgusting letter was written by Erickson’s   
   wife, Toni Erickson, a 15-year educator currently teaching at   
   Ogemaw Heights High School. While her pleas on behalf of her   
   husband may not be surprising, her suggestion that the victim   
   was unaffected by the abuse is more than a little disturbing,   
   particularly coming from a teacher.   
      
   “As for punishment, because I know that is something the   
   community expects, hasn’t he been punished enough? He is losing   
   a job he has held for 17 years and losing all future career   
   potential as a teacher. …   
      
   “I have seen many delightful students who have been damaged by   
   horrible events in their lives. While I acknowledge that Neal’s   
   conduct with [the victim] was wrong, I do not believe he was   
   damaged by Neal’s actions and I base my opinion on my personal   
   interaction with [the victim], both before and after Neal’s   
   actions. However [my daughter] very likely could be. Please   
   don’t punish her by his absence in her life.”   
      
   So the real victim in the case is the rapist’s daughter, not the   
   young student who was assaulted? This lady needs her head   
   examined, and perhaps her teaching license permanently revoked.   
      
   There were other troublesome letters, as well.   
      
   Rose City Middle School English teacher Sally Campbell wrote to   
   the court, “Please take into consideration his pleading guilty   
   so as not to put this student through any more than what has   
   already occurred.”   
      
   How charitable of the rapist to not force his victim to testify.   
   Perhaps he deserves the keys to the city for that one.   
      
   “Although Neal has pleaded guilty to a single charge of criminal   
   sexual conduct, evidence of this being a one-time incident   
   reaffirms the fact that he is not a sexual predator,” wrote 4th   
   grade teacher Marilyn Glover.   
      
   The abuse occurred over a 3-year period, according to various   
   news reports. Without getting into the physics of it all, it’s   
   highly unlikely it was a “one-time incident.”   
      
   ‘Extremely poor decisions’   
      
   Rose City Middle School social studies teacher Kathleen Scheel   
   believes the loss of his teaching certificate and parole should   
   be sufficient punishment for Erickson.   
      
   “I am aware that he made some extremely poor decisions in   
   carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a past student of   
   his. I believe the loss of his teaching certificate and the   
   parole restrictions that will limit his freedoms for the rest of   
   his life are steep enough of punishments that a long   
   incarceration term is not warranted on top of that.   
      
   “Our community’s children are not at risk of Neal’s presence –   
   he is not a predator. Rather he found a strong emotional tie to   
   one particular individual who was too young to be experiencing   
   that type of relationship,” Scheel wrote.   
      
   Scheel added that out of the 1,000-plus students Erickson has   
   taught, “not a single one filed a complaint against him.”   
      
   “He has been, and will be, greatly missed in the educational   
   arena. This, in and of itself, has been a huge punishment to   
   Neal,” wrote Ogemaw Heights social studies teacher Amy Huber   
   Eagan, whose husband, Mike Eagan, is on the school board.   
      
   Many residents have called for Mike Eagan’s resignation or   
   recall because he sat with Erickson’s family at the sentencing.   
      
   “I am asking that Neal be given the absolute minimum sentence,   
   considering all the circumstances surrounding this case,” Amy   
   Huber Eagan wrote. She added she hopes he will stay in the   
   county jail instead of being sent to a prison facility.   
      
   Retired band teacher Harriett Coe wrote in her letter defending   
   Erickson, “I have faith that the right course of action will be   
   considered by the justice system.”   
      
   Rest assured, Ms. Coe, it was.   
      
   Music teacher Carol Rau defended Erickson, and added, “May the   
   court discern with wisdom as it seeks to know the truth and   
   judge with equity.”   
      
   Rest assured, Ms. Rau, it did.   
      
   The teachers’ shocking defense of the admitted rapist was   
   heartbreaking to the victim’s family.   
      
   “ … When (the letters of support from teachers) came out in   
   court we were angry and sick to our stomachs,” the victim’s   
   father, John Janczewski, told EAGnews.   
      
   “We can’t believe (educators) who took an oath to protect and be   
   there for the child would turn a blind eye,” he said. “We   
   promised ourselves we’re not going to stop until the (teachers   
   who supported Erickson) are fired and this board member is   
   recalled.”   
      
   The judge echoed that sentiment.   
      
   Upon receiving the teachers’ letters, Judge Michael Bumgartner   
   said, “I’m appalled and ashamed that the community would rally   
   around, in this case, you,” referring to Erickson. “What you did   
   was a jab in the eye with a sharp stick to every parent who   
   trusts a teacher.”   
      
   The teachers’ actions in this case have shaken the West Branch-   
   Rose City community to its core.   
      
   We at EAGnews stand with the family and community seeking   
   justice for not only the victim, but for all students whom enter   
   the classrooms of West Branch Rose City Area Schools.   
      
   At its upcoming August 19th meeting, the school board will be   
   deciding whether or not to fire these teachers. We anticipate a   
   large crowd will turn out to voice their opinion and we will be   
   there to cover it.   
      
   http://eagnews.org/jaw-dropper-teacher-claims-young-student-   
   wasnt-damaged-when-her-husband-sexually-assaulted-him/   
      
        
      
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