California Bill Would Punish Student-Teacher Dating

March 27, 2012 12:23 PM

James Hooker, 41, and Jordan Powers, 18, have stirred controversy at a Modesto high school after the teacher entered into relationship with his student. (credit: Modesto Bee)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A 41-year-old teacher leaves his wife and his three children to date one of his high school students — and there’s nothing illegal about it.

A California lawmaker is hoping to change that with a bill that would make such relationships a felony, even if the student is 18, and strip teachers of their pensions and retiree health care.

The bill is a response to the case of Modesto high school teacher James Hooker, who quit his job and moved in with 18-year-old student Jordan Powers.

The couple has defended their relationship on national talk shows, saying it did not turn sexual until Powers was of age.

Republican Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, of Modesto, said there must be consequences for teachers who seduce their pupils, no matter the student’s age.

Dee Hodson

Who is supporting his children? How “convenient” to walk away from them.
Cal

Why the new bill? Isn’t their already a law regarding this? Oh yeah, and a felony too! The problem is that the mother of this idiot chick knew this was going on earlier with texts and calls, but did not report it until the daughter was 18…I blame the mother over the daughter (but she is stupid) Additionally, how would the wife of this so called teacher not know and report it. Texting throughout the night would surely raise suspicions of a wife???…Epic fail on everyones part!!!

Grandma

Dear California Lawmakers, please don’t waste my tax dollars and your time creating a new law/bill because of this case. If this new relationship is meant to be and they are happy productive members of society, then that is their choice. If their choice ends up biting them in the butt, then so be it; that’s their problem. We don’t need more laws to allow adults to not be held accountable for their own choices by claiming they were a victim. As previously mentioned, I think we already have laws in place to protect “children” from unethical teachers. Honestly, I haven’t considered myself a child since I was given a license to drive a car. Finally, I’m sure you have more pressing issues to deal with that affect a larger portion of our population in this State like the need to have a job and be a contributing member of our society. Dear Parents, You really only have a short time to teach your children to have a good work ethic and be a responsible citizen; that is your job as a parent. There are plenty of resources available if you need guidance. It’s not an easy job, but it is most important to you and the rest of us in this world that you do the very best you can at raising your children.

mr hunt

I agree with cal why did the mom wait till she was 18 to try and stop them
the mom almost got aressted for truspassing at there place where they live
the fault lies in mom for letting this get this far so i think this bill should be
closey looked at there some missing parts to this story on both sides
cradle robber

One day Jordan will come to her senses, and realize this guy is a predator, hopefully it will before she gets pregnant, so she can get out of the relationship without to much damage.
sassafras

There are already laws to deal with this we do not need duplicate laws, this jerk already stated at the git-go that he waited until the day she turned 18 to take their relationship to THE NEXT LEVEL he admitted he had a relationship with her before she turned 18 and nothing has been done, just because she is 18 now doesn’t excuse his illegal behavior before she turned 18. Stop trying to blame the victims(mother etc..)for this creeps illegal behavior, he knew what he was doing and had it all planned. If he is nor prosecuted, any child predator can enter the school systm and prime minor girls into having sex with THEM the day they turn 18. The catholic church is a prime example, but those predators have been caught at last. If I were her mother I would sue the school district.
simon6071

Some hypocritical lawmakers are always trying to use every opportunity provided by an extreme case to take away the freedom of the innocent people.

While I think it’s inappropriate for this particular teacher to leave his wife and children to date one of his FORMER high school students, I see nothing wrong for a teacher who has never been married to date one of his former student who is or over 18. I also see nothing wrong for a present or former college student who is or over 18 to date his/her teacher or former teacher who is single. To make such relationship a felony is just as absurd and oppressive as sentencing two men to jail for kissing each other as friends under a law meant to prevent sodomy between two men.

It is an obscene situation that California lawmakers allow men to commit sodomy legally, allow adultery to be committed and advertised legally and allow teenagers under 18 to kill their unborn babies legally without even letting their parents know about it while using an extreme case as an excuse to make a draconian law that would oppress heterosexual adults no longer having a student/ teacher relationship to engage in a love relationship.

God will be the judge of those hypocritical lawmakers who legalize sodomy, adultery and unborn baby killing without justifiable reason while criminalizing special love relationship among heterosexual single adults.
mike

His wife and children should be getting 2/3 of every penny he is getting from any source. Family comes first occording to GOD!