by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 5, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers have passed SB 1437, a bill aimed at increasing accountability for school employees and officials who fail to report sexual misconduct involving students. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits Governor Katie Hobbs’ signature.
Sponsored by Arizona Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), SB 1437 expands the list of mandatory reporters for cases of sexual misconduct in schools. Under the proposed law, school district governing board members, charter school governing body members, substitute teachers, and school safety officers will be legally required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct by school employees to law enforcement.
The bill was introduced in response to multiple cases of abuse that came to light during Werner’s tenure as a governing board member. Advocates argue that strengthening reporting requirements will close existing loopholes and help prevent potential predators from evading accountability.
SB1437 received bipartisan backing in the Arizona Legislature, with supporters emphasizing the need to ensure student safety and hold perpetrators accountable.
“It is imperative that we work together to protect children and take action against sexual predators who are abusing their trusted positions and flying under the radar in schools,” said Senator Werner. “Parents should be able to have confidence in knowing there are safeguards in place to prevent this abuse from happening.”
Supporters argue that increasing the number of mandatory reporters will deter potential misconduct and ensure swift action against offenders. The bill also reinforces Arizona’s commitment to child protection policies in schools.
“Not only does justice need to be served for inflicting life-altering acts on children, but parents should be able to have confidence in knowing when they send their child to school, there are safeguards in place to prevent this abuse from happening,” Senator Werner continued. “This bill, passing with bipartisan support, serves as a force-multiplier to ensure cases of sexual misconduct against children are reported. I applaud my colleagues in both chambers for getting this bill to the finish line. The people of Arizona are relying on us to implement laws to better protect our most vulnerable communities, and there’s no better way to deliver on this promise, than for the governor to sign this bill and support the effort.”
With the bill approved by both chambers of the legislature, it moves to Governor Hobbs’ desk for final consideration. If signed into law, Arizona will join other states that have recently strengthened mandatory reporting laws in response to concerns over child safety in educational settings.
The passage of SB 1437 underscores Arizona’s ongoing efforts to enhance protections for students and ensure greater accountability among those responsible for their well-being. The law would reinforce existing safeguards while signaling a tougher stance on preventing and addressing sexual misconduct in schools.
For further updates, stakeholders and the public are encouraged to follow legislative announcements and Governor Hobbs’ decision on the bill in the coming days.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 27, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) is being sued over its failure to release records that allegedly reveal additional wrongdoing by former officer and Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Sheriff, Tyler Kamp.
Multiple media reports have emerged on the sexual harassment complaints and reprimands for misconduct that Kamp received while employed with PPD.
Kamp’s past misconduct included a city investigation which found that Kamp sexually harassed a rookie female police officer via text in 2020 and in his last year on the force in 2021, though he was never disciplined since the investigation took place after he retired from the department. In 2014, Kamp was suspended for a day for breaching a confidential law enforcement database for personal use. Arizona law classifies unauthorized access to criminal history as a class six felony. In 2013, Kamp was punished for repeatedly using a city vehicle for personal use.
The unreleased records sought may provide more background on Kamp’s past — and now they’re being fought over in court.
Maricopa County voter Brian Anderson filed a request for those records on Kamp back in March. When PPD failed to return the records after five months, Anderson had an attorney send PPD a demand letter. In response to that letter, PPD said it would produce the records by mid-September. After PPD failed to produce those records, Anderson filed a lawsuit in court.
“Defendant’s failure to disclose Mr. Kemp’s [sic] personnel records before the Primary Election has already resulted in the public not knowing possibly important matters of concern that the public should have knowledge of before voting at the General Election,” read one court filing.
The records sought on Kamp seek to corroborate rumors and allegations that Kamp engaged in sexual acts with a civilian in a patrol car while on duty, engaged in sexual acts in the stairwell of PPD headquarters, and committed other sexual harassment and stalking incidents in addition to those publicized by local media. These claims made their way into the September debate between Kamp and his Republican opponent, Jerry Sheridan (who was the second in command under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio).
Although it is unclear why PPD refuses to release the records, there are some who would stand to benefit.
Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson was Kamp’s supervising officer and the assistant chief at PPD, and currently serves as his campaign chairman. In the press release announcing Kamp’s run, Robinson offered praise for his former subordinate.
“I have known Tyler for many years, going back to our time working in law enforcement together,” said Robinson. “He will bring extensive law enforcement and management experience to the role, and ensure a leadership grounded in integrity, accountability and a deep commitment to serving the community.”
In the recent past, MCSO chief deputies have made over $200,000.
On Tuesday, PPD and Anderson convened in court briefly and were scheduled for a full hearing next week.
Kamp, formerly a Republican, switched parties last December to run as a Democrat. Kamp’s platform includes building on the work of Democratic Sheriff Paul Penzone, which includes more restorative justice rather than incarceration — though the county sheriff has no role in prosecution or sentencing. Some have criticized restorative justice as a “soft-on-crime” approach for practices such as having offenders apologize to victims in exchange for lighter sentencing or parole. Restorative justice is often implemented in high-crime cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
Kamp also proposes establishing a task force for crime trends, a cross-agency task force, more hiring incentives like bonuses and continuing educational support, and bringing an end to the Melendres Court Orders.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Jan 5, 2024 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
65 Arizona educators and 23 certified in Arizona faced discipline relating to sexual misconduct with minors in 2023.
According to Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) board meetings, 88 educators’ alleged and/or admitted behavior with minors resulted in their certificates being either revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered, with two given letters of censure with conditions:
- Deniz Akca (Cartwright Elementary School District)
- Enrique Alvarez (Nogales Unified School District)
- David Atzenweiler (certified in Arizona)
- Felix Armenta (Gadsden Independent School District)
- Keith Armstrong (Legacy Traditional School)
- Joshua Bahen (certified in Arizona)
- Darangelo Balark (Maya High School)
- Samuel Bauman (Mesa Unified School District)
- Brent Becenti (Florence Unified School District)
- Steve Belles (Chandler Unified School District)
- Lucas Bogard (Blue Adobe Project)
- Ray Borges (Agua Fria Union High School District)
- Wulfido Caday (certified in Arizona)
- Christopher Carter (Tempe Union High School District)
- James Conkle (certified in Arizona)
- Gregory Boujikian (Phoenix Union High School District)
- Scott Brockish (Arizona State University Preparatory Academy)
- Nicholas Brozina (certified in Arizona)
- Holly Craft (Agua Fria Union High School District)
- Timothy Dargon (Mingus Union High School District)
- Troy Davis (Tolleson Union High School District)
- Melissa Didiana (certified in Arizona)
- James Dillon (Yuma Union High School District)
- Stephen Escudero (Prescott Unified School District)
- Cody Fortune (certified in Arizona)
- Irvin Garcia-Flores (Aqua Fria Union High School District)
- Esmeralda Velasco-Guerrero
- Walter Halaberda (Flagstaff Unified School District)
- Douglas Hester (Phoenix Union High School District)
- Robert Holland (Phoenix Union High School District)
- Michael Hood (certified in Arizona)
- Cheng-Hsuan Tsai (Tempe Montessori School)
- Miles Huff (Payson Unified School District)
- Michael Irving (certified in Arizona)
- Nathan Jellicoe (Dysart Unified School District)
- Antonio Jordan (Mesa Public Schools)
- Cory Kapahulehua (Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center High School)
- Jon Kizzia (Scottsdale Unified School District)
- Daniel Scott Larsen (Winslow Unified School District)
- Lou Lernor (ASU Preparatory Academy South Phoenix)
- James Limones (Sunnyside Unified School District)
- Mark Lindrud (certified in Arizona)
- Salvador Lopez (Sunnyside Unified School District)
- Mark Lucero (Douglas Unified School District)
- Kelly Martin (Legacy Traditional School)
- Shane Martin (Yuma Elementary District)
- Lynn Matthews (certified in Arizona)
- James Miller (Dysart Unified School District)
- Michael Molina (Douglas Unified School District)
- Marissa Montero (Chandler Unified School District)
- Jalen Montgomery (Scottsdale Unified School District)
- Elaine Mooneyham (Parker Unified School District)
- Michael Naumann (Pendergast Elementary School District)
- Gustavo Orellana (certified in Arizona)
- Samantha Peer (Lake Havasu Unified School District)
- Marvin Pacheco Villa (Western School of Science and Technology)
- Zachary Parker (Phoenix Union High School District)
- Eric Popely (certified in Arizona)
- Jacob Ramirez (Paradise Valley Unified School District)
- Jaron Rheinlander (Marana Unified School District, ASU Preparatory Academy)
- Dylan Riddle (Vail Unified School District)
- Todd Roatsey (certified in Arizona)
- Celedonio Rodriguez (Flagstaff Unified School District)
- Eric Sapul (Altar Valley School District)
- Humberto Sauceda (certified in Arizona)
- Andrea Schembre
- Brandon Shinault (Adams Traditional Academy)
- Joshua Silverthorn (certified in Arizona)
- Scott Sims (Deer Valley Unified School District)
- Jessica Smith (Accelerated Learning Center, Phoenix Charter High School)
- William Thorpe (Vail Unified School District)
- Angel Torres (certified in Arizona)
- Ryan Trerise (Glendale Preparatory Academy Great Hearts)
- Clarence Walker III (certified in Arizona)
- Justin Walters (Desert Garden Montessori School)
- Christopher Walton (certified in Arizona)
- Shawn Watson (certified in Arizona)
- Colin White (Payson Unified School District)
- Nathan Williams (certified in Arizona)
- Sommer Wilson (Kyrene School District)
- Brandon Wingert (Tanque Verde Unified School District)
- Jorge Valencia (Flagstaff Unified School District)
- Zobella Vinik (Tucson Unified School District)
- Dante Yarborough (Mesa Unified School District)
- William Yaw IV (certified in Arizona)
- Blake Young (Maricopa Unified School District)
- Jose Garcia Zepeda (Phoenix Union High School District)
- Russell Zysett (certified in Arizona)
Some cases brought before ASBE await adjudication. Their case summaries cited inappropriate behavior with minors. Select portions of these cases are reproduced below:
- Manual Gavina (Phoenix Elementary School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about December 10, 2019, officers from the Phoenix Police Department arrested Manuel Gavina for three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Educator Gavina inappropriately touched several female students’ breasts and buttocks. Educator Gavina admitted to touching hundreds of female students’ breasts.”
- Levi Jackson (certified in Arizona), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about October 4, 2022, Educator Jackson was arrested for five counts of Felony Sexual Abuse, 2 counts of Felony Lure Minor for Sexual Exploitation, 1 count of Felony Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and 19 counts of Misdemeanor Contribute to Delinquency of a Minor by officers from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Educator Jackson inappropriately touched his foreign exchange host student, Student A, over a period of several weeks. Educator Jackson touched Student’s A private area, gave Student A an inappropriate massage near Student A’s groin, asked to see Student A’s private area, discussed masturbation with Student A, and rubbed his own groin against Student A.”
- Joanna Reyes (Sunnyside Unified School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision by ASBE: “Educator Reyes was involved in a romantic relationship with her former 5th grade student, Student A, who was twelve-years-old. This case was presented to the Pima County Attorney’s Office on February 13, 2023 for felony charges. The felony charges were declined. However, multiple misdemeanor charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Nuisance will be filed with the Tucson City Court.” ASBE informed AZ Free News that her case is under review for appropriate next steps in the disciplinary process.
- Jacob Williams (Yuma Union High School District, Somerton School District), teaching certificates suspended pending a public hearing and final decision of ASBE: “On or about October 6, 2022, officers from the Yuma Police Department arrested Jacob Ray Williams for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Educator Williams was ‘Snapchatting’ with a minor female student, requesting her to send naked pictures. Educator Williams sent pictures of his genitalia to this minor female student.”
ASBE meeting materials may be reviewed here. As per our previous reporting on this subject, some of the accused educators have denied the allegations against them.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
