Gary Englert
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
8:42 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
ReplySarab Thapar:
First, DePalo does not appear to fit the either the legal or psychiatric definition of a pedophile.
Second, you'll get no argument from me concerning the fact that a double standard exists concerning the sexual mores of men versus women and how the actions of either gender are viewed in our society.
That said, however, very little of that was at play here...with the possible exception of the prosecution (understanding that double standard exists) recognizing how difficult it would be to get a unanimous verdict from 12 jurors.
It really boiled down to text messages being the only hard evidence and the necessity to have their meaning and intent corroborated by a victim-witness that was reluctant to do so.
All else being the same, and simply reverse the gender of the accused and the victim, it still would have been a difficult case to win at trial.
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
11:42 am on Monday, May 6, 2013
Replyg.t.:
There's very little comical about understanding the nuance of the law and the difficulties the prosection would have had in trying to win a conviction at trial.
What DePalo was ultimately charged with, and what she pled guilty to and allocuted to, in court, was the child endangerment charge; the sexual assault charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
It's not a perfect world and I never said that it was...nor am I defending the woman's actions on any level.
I simply understand why the matter was adjudicated as it was...period.
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
2:51 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013
Replyjohn anthony prignano:
What the varying opinions being expressed on this topic underscore is the uncertainty of getting twelve people on an Essex County jury to reach a unanimous verdict in such a case.
Given that...and the quality of the evidence and testimony available, or lack thereof, the case was adjudicated as it was.
Is Ms. DePalo a victim here?
No.
Any medical/psychological issues aside (there was no diminished capacity defense made), she remains an adult who was held accountable for her actions.
There's an old adage about legal rulings that suggests that if neither side is happy, justice and fairness likely prevailed.
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
2:02 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
ReplyJulie Levine:
"Probably" is the operative word; to gain a conviction at trial would require evidence corroborated by a cooperative witness and that was lacking here.
I'm inclined to believe the prosecution did the best they could with what they had to work with.
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
12:45 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
ReplyVicki Russo:
I don't see where anyone is "defending this woman."
Those opnining rationally are simply acknowledging the vagaries of winning a conviction at trial, in general, and in this case in particular.
That said, it is not at all apparent to me that any special influence was exereted or consideration given for this matter to be adjudicated as it was.
A plea agreement was reached because a conviction at trial was far from assured and, yes, the object of the exercise was to get her out of the classroom and away from children...and the ECPO accomplished precisely that...and at minimal public expense.
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On the article [UPDATE] Police: Student Found with BB Gun at High School
Gary Englert
8:41 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Paul P:
Like it or not, matters of personnel are handled confidentially under the law; it's not about the Board of Education being secretive or hoodwinking the public.
As to the costs associated with ending Dr. Cavanna's employment, what compensation he was paid, Mr. O'Neill's salary and whatever legal fees were accrued are all a matter of public record and come nowhere close to the $1,000,000 you suggest.
The numbers are readily available for public scrutiny.
Insofar as Liberty Middle School is concerned, the variance granted the developer and the land obatined for the school's location was a win-win for the Township.
The former mitigated the additional student population single family homes would have created and the latter provided $ 5 Million worth of land (for free) on which to construct the school and which wasn't available anywhere else.
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On the article Former Teacher Gets Parole After Admitting to Sex with Student
Gary Englert
8:41 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Ken:
All of which pretty well mirrors what I've had to say on this subject; the judicial system has to deal with what cards they're dealt.
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On the article [UPDATE] Police: Student Found with BB Gun at High School
Gary Englert
2:40 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
george:
Is that comment supposed to be an example of civil discourse and/or elevating the level of conversation?
I think not.
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On the article [UPDATE] Police: Student Found with BB Gun at High School
Gary Englert
2:40 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Paul P:
While you'd be far better served by addressing your issues and concerns with those who can address them, rather than venting here, not to do so is your choice.
"The board has spent almost $1,000,000 on private issues and lawyers?' Would you care to share whatever it is you are possibly talking about?
The (former) Mountain High School-Lincoln Junior High complex (now WOHS) was built circa 1960. If that was part of some "land for variances deal" please enlighten us.
The decision to combine West Orange High School (now Seton Hall Prep) and Mountain High into a single school (circa 1985) was motivated by a significant decline in overall enrollment and the economic dynamics at the time; then, as now, people were interested in saving money.
All that said, I hardly think that Pleasant Valley Way is "the middle of nowhere" and our school are most certainly an "an integral part of (our) town's culture."
Gary Englert
11:08 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
Sarab Thapar:
We're pretty much in agreement, although I don't know that if the male-female roles in this particular case were reversed...and given what appears to have been a lack of stand alone evidence and a reluctant witness...that the outcome would have been substantially different.