http://www.wftv.com/news/24705795/detail.html

Posted: 6:04 pm EDT August 20, 2010
Updated: 6:39 pm EDT August 20, 2010

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A business teacher in Brevard County is facing felony fraud charges, but he's still teaching students. WFTV wanted to know why Daniel Jacobs is still in the classroom while he's being investigated.

The school district says fraud is not the kind of charge that gets someone suspended. In fact, he was even part of an open house there Thursday night, but some parents think the school is taking it too lightly.

Jacobs was arrested on six counts of fraud earlier this month.

"He's responsible for a lot of kids, setting an example for a lot of kids," mother April Blankenship said.

Some parents can't understand why he's been allowed to keep teaching at Johnson Middle School in Melbourne while he's out on $17,000 bond.

"Do you think he should still be teaching?" WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked Blankenship.

"Oh, absolutely not. I don't think he should be here, that is not fair for students or teachers," Blankenship said.

Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol say they've confirmed nine victims in an odometer scam that they say Jacobs orchestrated with his business partner, William Crowther, at Originality Autos in Melbourne. Authorities say the two would remove old odometers on cars and replace them with new ones with fewer miles.

But school district officials said they won't put Jacobs on leave, because he's not accused of a violent crime.

"Should somebody who's charged with fraud be teaching anybody about business at this point?" Rasmussen asked.

"Again, it's not an actual business course, it's keyboarding," said Christine Davis, Brevard County Schools.

Neighbors say Jacobs' used car business has been locked up since his arrest and one man, who says he was almost ripped off, couldn't believe Jacobs still had his day job.

"I'm glad he's not teaching my kids," Davis said.

The district said it's contacting the principal twice a day now just to make sure Jacobs' presence isn't causing any disruptions in the classroom.

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Apparently these parents failed Civics in school. We live in a nation where someone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Amazing how quickly people forget that.

As the crime he's accused of has no direct impact on his ability or credibility in his subject area (keyboarding), and since the crime he's accused of would have no affect on the students themselves (odometer fraud; middle schoolers aren't out buying cars), the school district is correct in this instance, IMO

Great, Brevard County, that's the county I live in!!!:rolleyes:

I don't think he should be teaching either. It's like rewarding him for committing a felony.

Sure he's innocent till proven guilty, at least suspend him WITHOUT pay till a verdict is handed down

WITHOUT pay

At which point, if he's found not guilty, you've punished him (withholding of pay) for something he wasn't actually guilty of. See the horrible flaw in that idea?

You want him out of the classroom? I don't like the idea but I can understand the sentiment. If he's pulled out of the class room, then give him Paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the court case. Full reinstatement if he's found not guilty, termination if he's found guilty.

At some point in the last, oh, 30-35 years, the public seems to have developed this obsession with punishment. Now it's no longer even required for someone to be found guilty before they're already damned in the court of public opinion and expected to be taken to the woodshed, to hell if they're actually innocent. For all I know, this guy is guilty. But the calls to pull him out of the classroom, without pay...for something he may yet be found innocent of? It's absurd.

Great, Brevard County, that's the county I live in!!!:rolleyes:
Again, it's Florida!! You and Janice Johnson must be so proud of your state all the time. :eek: :lol:

At which point, if he's found not guilty, you've punished him (withholding of pay) for something he wasn't actually guilty of. See the horrible flaw in that idea?

You want him out of the classroom? I don't like the idea but I can understand the sentiment. If he's pulled out of the class room, then give him Paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the court case. Full reinstatement if he's found not guilty, termination if he's found guilty.

At some point in the last, oh, 30-35 years, the public seems to have developed this obsession with punishment. Now it's no longer even required for someone to be found guilty before they're already damned in the court of public opinion and expected to be taken to the woodshed, to hell if they're actually innocent. For all I know, this guy is guilty. But the calls to pull him out of the classroom, without pay...for something he may yet be found innocent of? It's absurd.

I agree with your sentiment. Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of members on these boards
who have just this very attitude toward crime and punishment and also an attitude of disrespect for
our legal system. Our legal system exists to determine both guilt and innocence and not just guilt
alone. When people are found guilty, they are punished for their crime and when they are found to be
innocent, they are released from custody because that is the way our justice system is supposed to work.

Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of members on these boards
who have just this very attitude toward crime and punishment and also an attitude of disrespect for
our legal system.

Having an opinion and showing disrespect are two entirely different things. Seth only gave his opinion and the reasons for it and I personally agree with what he said. Your claim that a lot of us have an attitude toward or disrespect for the law and our legal system is downright ludicrous. It's only when we disagree with it that you start lecturing us about it.

^ EXACTLY.

Won't somebody think of the children? This man could be teaching fraudulent keyboarding right this minute.

Won't somebody think of the children? This man could be teaching fraudulent keyboarding right this minute.
:lol:

Won't somebody think of the children? This man could be teaching fraudulent keyboarding right this minute.
It's always the children who suffer. :rolleyes: