Slap Her Hand, Send Him to Prison

I don't normally report on molestation by male teachers strictly because of the numbers. The overwhelming majority of school-related sex offenses is committed by men and, as it is, I have a difficult enough time keeping up with the volume of female teachers involved with sex crimes.

In doing so, I've been surprised by the count of female teachers that have been accused of molestation. Even though they are a small minority of the total sex crimes problem, they are significant in number. I've also learned that females convicted of sex crimes are rarely receiving harsh or even reasonable punishment when compared to the sentences received by men. On the contrary, female sexual molesters typically have their hands slapped.

To illustrate the typical treatment a male teacher could expect, check out this report from VeniceGondolier.com:

Thomas E. Berntsen, 41, 3200 block Langmade Ave., North Port, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading to charges of lewd or lascivious molestation. The sentencing took place Nov. 1 before Sarasota County Circuit Judge Charles Roberts. The plea came two weeks before a scheduled trial.

In September, former VHS coach James LaMorte, Sr., 64, was sentenced to 21 years for having sex with former male students 25 years ago. He is currently incarcerated.

Former Garden Elementary School Principal Mark Cook is serving two life terms for having sex with his former male students 25 years ago.

Seldom is a female teacher sentenced to anything close to the terms described above.