Teh One Who Knocks
03-28-2012, 12:47 PM
By Erin Shannon - Enterprise staff writer
http://i.imgur.com/XivcM.jpg
BROCKTON — In the wake of the sentencing of a former Abington elementary teacher on child rape charges, Superintendent Peter Schafer said schools “can never be too cautious.”
Christine McCallum, convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old boy, was sentenced to 29 months in prison and 10 years probation on Tuesday in Brockton Superior Court.
“Schools need to continue to be ever vigilant because there are those people who are looking to end up in those situations with students,” said Schafer.
McCallum was arrested on Jan. 9, 2009, after the boy told police the couple had had sex up to 300 times during a 21-month period. McCallum pleaded guilty to 12 counts of child rape, one count of drugging a person for sex and one count of providing alcohol to a minor.
This is the second Abington ex-teacher to plead guilty to sex crimes with a student this year. Former substitute teacher and tennis coach Jon J. O’Keefe, of Waltham, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual conduct for a fee with a three students in February.
“We reviewed the process (of hiring teachers) and it’s been unchanged,” Schafer said after O’Keefe was sentenced to three years probation. “Best practice was followed, and we’ll continue to do that.”
School Committee Chairman James West said he had no comment because he didn’t know all the facts. Vice Chairwoman Jannette Leary said all questions should be directed to the superintendent and she had no comment as well.
McCallum, a native of Coventry, R.I., was living in Rockland and teaching fifth grade at the Woodsdale Elementary School in Abington when she was charged. She was 29 at the time of her arrest.
McCallum met the 13-year-old boy at the library, according to reports, where she was tutoring his 9-year-old brother. McCallum forged a friendship with the boy's family and eventually started babysitting the boys, according to Rockland and Abington police reports.
In a victim impact statement, the victim, who is now 16, wept as he said McCallum destroyed his life and drove a wedge between him and his family. The victim's father also read a statement in which he called McCallum ‘‘a true predator and a monster’’ whose impact on the family is beyond measure, said McCallum’s attorney Kevin Reddington.
McCallum’s family, her husband, siblings, parents and aunts and uncles were in court with her. McCallum and her husband have a baby who was conceived after the charges, said Reddington.
McCallum is expected to serve her time in Barnstable House of Correction. She will serve half of her 10 years of probation on a GPS monitoring device, is required to register as a sex offender and will seek counseling as deemed by her probation officer.
“The Abington public schools remain deeply sad and troubled by the case,” said Schafer. “We have a reputation of excellence and the commitment to the safety and well being of our students and that commitment remains steadfast.”
http://i.imgur.com/XivcM.jpg
BROCKTON — In the wake of the sentencing of a former Abington elementary teacher on child rape charges, Superintendent Peter Schafer said schools “can never be too cautious.”
Christine McCallum, convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old boy, was sentenced to 29 months in prison and 10 years probation on Tuesday in Brockton Superior Court.
“Schools need to continue to be ever vigilant because there are those people who are looking to end up in those situations with students,” said Schafer.
McCallum was arrested on Jan. 9, 2009, after the boy told police the couple had had sex up to 300 times during a 21-month period. McCallum pleaded guilty to 12 counts of child rape, one count of drugging a person for sex and one count of providing alcohol to a minor.
This is the second Abington ex-teacher to plead guilty to sex crimes with a student this year. Former substitute teacher and tennis coach Jon J. O’Keefe, of Waltham, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual conduct for a fee with a three students in February.
“We reviewed the process (of hiring teachers) and it’s been unchanged,” Schafer said after O’Keefe was sentenced to three years probation. “Best practice was followed, and we’ll continue to do that.”
School Committee Chairman James West said he had no comment because he didn’t know all the facts. Vice Chairwoman Jannette Leary said all questions should be directed to the superintendent and she had no comment as well.
McCallum, a native of Coventry, R.I., was living in Rockland and teaching fifth grade at the Woodsdale Elementary School in Abington when she was charged. She was 29 at the time of her arrest.
McCallum met the 13-year-old boy at the library, according to reports, where she was tutoring his 9-year-old brother. McCallum forged a friendship with the boy's family and eventually started babysitting the boys, according to Rockland and Abington police reports.
In a victim impact statement, the victim, who is now 16, wept as he said McCallum destroyed his life and drove a wedge between him and his family. The victim's father also read a statement in which he called McCallum ‘‘a true predator and a monster’’ whose impact on the family is beyond measure, said McCallum’s attorney Kevin Reddington.
McCallum’s family, her husband, siblings, parents and aunts and uncles were in court with her. McCallum and her husband have a baby who was conceived after the charges, said Reddington.
McCallum is expected to serve her time in Barnstable House of Correction. She will serve half of her 10 years of probation on a GPS monitoring device, is required to register as a sex offender and will seek counseling as deemed by her probation officer.
“The Abington public schools remain deeply sad and troubled by the case,” said Schafer. “We have a reputation of excellence and the commitment to the safety and well being of our students and that commitment remains steadfast.”