What a horrible story. Anybody knows more about this case?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fairfax-teacher-sean-lanigan-still-suffering-from-false-molestation-allegations/2011/03/04/AFVwhh3G_print.html

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/299701.html

long thread - sad story :(

No wonder teachers are leaving the profession

The student should be punished. She knew exactly what she was doing. And it was all because she was such a bully to begin with that Mr. Lanigan had to tell her she may be dismissed from safety patrol.

I would hate to be her parents.

Not the first time Fairfax County P0lice half assed an investigation that can alter one's life for the worst.

Wow, just WOW.

I hope he sues (district and that stupid students parents) and gets his life back.

I take a lot of heat and flaming for defending the rights of accused to get through a trial before their name is all over the press. This case is a major reason why the identity of accused should be held as secret as the accuser's until a guilty verdict is reached. If someone is guilty then plaster their name all over the place. But the accusation ruins lives under how things work now.

The Fairfax County detective and the prosecutor on this case are at fault. It never should have reached a court (much less handcuffs). No evidence means no case. Fairfax County needs to reimburse this guy FULLY and FCPS need to give him his job back full time (and stop goofing around with him).

But, no. They can never admit that they make mistakes. NEVER. They are God.

What they aren't getting is a sex crime was perpetrated on him, and they are punishing the victim of a sex crime. But we're not at the point yet where what happened can be officially be categorized as such. A false accusation of a sex crime is itself a sex crime.

justsayin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What they aren't getting is a sex crime was
> perpetrated on him, and they are punishing the
> victim of a sex crime. But we're not at the point
> yet where what happened can be officially be
> categorized as such. A false accusation of a sex
> crime is itself a sex crime.

This will devolve into a million dollar lawsuit, as now this man's entire life has been negatively affected and the girl that made the false report is a minor. Therefore the responsibility for paying any legal will fall on the school system and the girl's parents.

This is absolutely disgusting. Out of control cops with no oversight perform a half-baked "investigation," the DA lazily signs off on it, and just like that a man's life is ruined. Were the cops fired? Reprimanded? And the way the school system treated Lanigan afterwards...

Even though I live in this county, and this will no doubt be reflected in my taxes, I hope that Lanigan finally gets mad enough to hire a bulldog lawyer and sues the ass off of Fairfax for a huge settlement, then takes his family and moves out of this area to another place where he can pick up the pieces of his life...

"I wonder if anyone showed up at lanigans house to give him what fer. I sure hope he gets a little backdoor justice when he gets to the bighouse."

A quote from a previous thread on this subject...

So where are all the FFU internet tough-guys that wanted to work up some vigilante justice for Lannigan? I bet you were getting all excited about doing something to him..which you never had the guts to do...good thing, since he was innocent, huh?

It is that kids parents that should be going before the Board to have this teacher cleared and returned to NORMAL teaching duties..

sickening Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is that kids parents that should be going
> before the Board to have this teacher cleared and
> returned to NORMAL teaching duties..

------------------------------------
true that part - or at least a public apology

Casius Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So where are all the FFU internet tough-guys that
> wanted to work up some vigilante justice for
> Lannigan?

They have all gone away. Quick to judge without trial, yet will not admit that had we done what they were calling for an innocent man would be hurt or killed all because an immature student didn't like the music he was playing in the class he was running. Nor have I received any apologies in public or via PM from those calling me an accessory to rapists for simply suggesting what I have in this thread, innocent until proven guilty.

Part of that is why I don't believe many of the posts giving the "new" he-was-innocent-make-them-pay position in this thread. Where were they when the accusations and calling for his head were happening, in a thread titled "Centre Ridge PE teacher sexually assaults 12 year old girl" (which the original poster has not apologized for either)? Are so few brave enough to promote due process BEFORE and harsh punishments AFTER a guilty verdict?

"Zero Tolerance" (involuntary transfer, essential demotion) for teachers as well I guess - doesn't matter if you are guilty or not at FCPS....

@justsayin - hot heads prevail when the topic is kid sex assault. will always be that way on the interweb, sad to say

in reality, could this guy still be an effective teacher at Center Ridge? Is the specter of this bullshit still haunting the school? Does anybody know that?

At the very least, FCPS should either give him a transfer or a buyout - and an OFFICIAL LETTER OF APOLOGY from BOTH FCPS and FCPD should be handed the man

@duchess - cant say they arent fair LoLz

Scarred by charges, teacher allowed to return to classroom
Lanigan will continue teaching at South Lakes

Sean Lanigan, a Centre Ridge Elementary School teacher who was exonerated in Fairfax County Circuit Court on charges he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old female student, has been told by Fairfax County Public Schools that he can return to work.

On Aug. 10, more than two months after he was exonerated in Fairfax County Circuit Court on charges he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old female student, Centre Ridge Elementary School teacher and soccer coach Sean Lanigan was finally told by Fairfax County Public Schools that he could return to work.

Instead of returning to Centre Ridge Elementary School, where he taught for the last 13 years, Lanigan will begin the new school year at South Lakes High School in Reston, according to school officials.

"He was transferred there and will begin the new school year as a teacher there," FCPS spokesman Paul Regnier confirmed on Monday.

Lanigan, who spent more than $100,000 on his defense, will continue to bear scars from the ordeal, including a potentially harmful statement made by the Fairfax County Department of Family Services that could remain part of his official employment record for the next two years.

In a June 10 letter to Lanigan obtained by the Times, the department states that claims made by Lanigan's accuser are "unfounded" and that "a preponderance of the evidence indicates that [the 12-year-old- girl] was not sexually abused" by Lanigan.

The letter goes on to say, however, that "while the evidence assembled does not meet the policy definition of abuse in this instance, the contact you had with [the 12-year-old girl] constituted, at a minimum, an alarming violation of boundaries between yourself and a student."

"What boundaries are those?" asked Bill Cummings, a family friend of Lanigan's who has been corresponding with family services officials as Lanigan's spokesman. "I have been trying to find out exactly where these so-called boundaries are defined in either FCPS regulations or in Virginia code, but to no avail," he said. "This is supposed to be a letter clearing Sean. Instead, that statement is a stain on his record and I can't get a straight answer as to what regulations define what these 'boundaries' are."

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services declined to comment. Fairfax County spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald said the department by policy does not comment publicly on its cases.

Becky Doebler, 37, has her own complaints about both the Department of Family Services and FCPS.

Her daughter, another sixth-grade girl who attended Centre Ridge, was a former friend of Lanigan's accuser and a key witness in his court case.

Becky Doebler claims that shortly after her daughter's friend accused Lanigan of sexual impropriety, Centre Ridge Elementary School Principal James Baldwin invited Fairfax County Police Detective Nicole Christian into the school to interview her daughter without her knowledge.

"That is a direct violation of FCPS regulation 2616.5," she said. "That regulation states that the questioning of students by police officers on school property requires reasonable efforts to secure permission from the student's parents before any questioning occurs."

Doebler said after she learned about the questioning from her daughter, she contacted Baldwin and said she did not give permission for any subsequent interviewing of her daughter while in school.

"But [my daughter] was questioned -- in school -- three more times after that by the same detective," she said.

"Her grades began to fall right about that time," she added. "As a direct result of that stress."

Doebler also claims that soon after her complaints to Baldwin, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services began investigating her.

"They don't have to tell you who filed the complaint," she said. "I still don't know."

Doebler has since taken her daughter out of FCPS and has moved out-of-state.

Regnier said that to his knowledge, Baldwin did not violate any school regulations. "But it is a complicated issue," he said. "I'm not sure how much I am at liberty to discuss."

glad he has his job back

but on a side note, how many grown women still call themselves "Becky"?

HB 1548 - requiring parental notification by the school - was defeated in the VA State Senate. FCPS sent lobbyist to lobby against it after it passed - unanimously- in the House.

I can't imagine why FCPS wouldn't want parents notified and/or present during any questioning by police of a child. This strikes me as particularly odd. What could be their rationale for objecting?

If I were an administrator, my first inclination would be to contact the parents. After all, the school system has an obligation to inform the parents of whatever is happening with their children.

Where do they have an obligation to do that? They have an obligation to supply a place and teachers using public funding, that is about it. The rest is there to protect against lawsuits. Parents out of room = only one story.

I don't think that law has to do with the police interviewing a child as a victim, a suspect, or a witness. The notification was originally crafted by activists who want parental notification in the even of a student seeking abortion advice, health consultatation, or any risks to the student's safety (i.e., the VPI incident).

would a responsible parent be more concerned with EXACTLY WHY the police wanted to talk to their kid more than the fact they werent called beforehand?

Sean is trying to recoup his legal fees - over $100,000. Unfortunately because the state has sovereign immunity, there's really no way to get any money from them.

They are, however, battling the school system to get reimbursed for ALL his legal fees. FCPS has been disgraceful in their handling of this matter for the past 16 months... offering less then 1/2 his legal costs and de-staffing him from his South Lakes High School position even after proving his innocence.

To help him recoup his losses, you can send an angry email to:

FCPS Superintendent Dale (jack.dale@fcps.edu)

or to the members of the Fairfax County School Board (schoolboardmembers@fcps.edu)

so he's not teaching now? Why not?

He is a great teacher at south lakes. I am not sure FCPS should use this story to recruit teachers. they will freeze your salary and not protect you from crazies

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so he's not teaching now? Why not?


He was "de-staffed" from South Lakes High School... meaning he hasn't been technically fired by FCPS, but he has to find a position at another school.

There's probably some parental crazies still hounding the schools. There are always some people who can't get over the fact they were wrong and bent on persecuting him with lies and innuendo.

Lots more on this today on a WaPo blog:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/sean-lanigan-the-rest-of-the-story-vol-1/2011/05/16/AFUlpc4G_blog.html

EDIT: And live chat transcript with Lanigan here:

http://live.washingtonpost.com/sean-lanigan.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2011 03:17PM by Ut videam.

thanks for those links, Ut videam - I'm praying that FCPS get's it's head out of it's ass and figures out how to make things right

“it wuz a joke tho lyk always he picks up gurls as a joke nd I feel rlly bad. Nd I swear I dident wnt to go this far I told cuz some1 told me too nd I thought he wud just get a warning but no:(.”

This is what the pathetic little cunt said on Facebook about the man whose life she ruined.

I'm sure her parents are very proud of her.

Nice ghetto grammar, princess.

Re Detective Nicole Christian...

"But when others – staff, parents – tried to tell Nicole Christian anything she didn’t want to hear, she threatened them with prosecution for obstruction of justice, the staff members and parents said. School district investigator Steve Kerr’s investigative report, written after Lanigan’s acquittal, confirmed those claims, noting that: “Because of the jury’s decision, the detective [Christian] advised that she will not pursue criminal charges against [staff member] or [staff member"

So not only did this rogue cop try to railroad a teacher on the flimsiest of evidence, but she also was threatening school staff with obstruction of justice charges?

Is this "Le Mis"? Was there no supervision of this freak with a badge?

What a bitch, whoever ends up with that slut is going to be in for a wild ride

Is Mr. Lanigan able to sue Detective Nicole Christian (what an interesting last name)? He should be able to if she zealously threatened anyone who tried to provide information that might have helped Mr. Lanigan and prevented this case from going to court.

Maybe it's been addressed previously, but can't this kid be charged with "making false statements" or something, if she willingly and knowingly made these false accusations? 12 years old or not? The WaPo blog makes it seem like she's getting off scot free.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe it's been addressed previously, but can't
> this kid be charged with "making false statements"
> or something, if she willingly and knowingly made
> these false accusations? 12 years old or not?
> The WaPo blog makes it seem like she's getting off
> scot free.

If this stupid little girl did this to me, I'd run over her with car (several times) and laughing all the way.
Attachments:

Detective abusing her position? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is Mr. Lanigan able to sue Detective Nicole
> Christian (what an interesting last name)? He
> should be able to if she zealously threatened
> anyone who tried to provide information that might
> have helped Mr. Lanigan and prevented this case
> from going to court.


It is a shame what happened to Mr L but his past behavior caused some of his problems. He had some complaints about his behavior as a teacher and as a coach. The FCPD reviewed countless hours of video from the schools surveillance database which revealed numerous instances of questionable conduct. The investigator was doing her job to the best of her ability. Had Lanigan not been charged and another incident taken place the FCPD would have been under 100 times more scrutiny than they are now. Our justice system is not perfect but is one of the best in the history of the world.

Way to blame the victim, county worker.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=confirmation+bias

EDIT: If threatening witnesses who offered exculpatory information with prosecution is "the best of her ability," then Detective Christian should be dismissed from the FCPD and prosecuted for official misconduct.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2011 06:03PM by Ut videam.

Ut videam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> EDIT: If threatening witnesses who offered
> exculpatory information with prosecution is "the
> best of her ability," then Detective Christian
> should be dismissed from the FCPD and prosecuted
> for official misconduct.


Reminds me of Nifong and the cab driver who offered an alibi for the lacrosse players. Did he fairly consider the new information? No, he had him arrested on totally bogus trumped up charges.

county worker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Detective abusing her position? Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is Mr. Lanigan able to sue Detective Nicole
> > Christian (what an interesting last name)? He
> > should be able to if she zealously threatened
> > anyone who tried to provide information that
> might
> > have helped Mr. Lanigan and prevented this case
> > from going to court.
>
>
> It is a shame what happened to Mr L but his past
> behavior caused some of his problems. He had some
> complaints about his behavior as a teacher and as
> a coach. The FCPD reviewed countless hours of
> video from the schools surveillance database which
> revealed numerous instances of questionable
> conduct. The investigator was doing her job to the
> best of her ability. Had Lanigan not been charged
> and another incident taken place the FCPD would
> have been under 100 times more scrutiny than they
> are now. Our justice system is not perfect but is
> one of the best in the history of the world.

What specifically did the investigator find while reviewing the tapes? Questionable conduct would be enough to remove him from his job. Obviously it wasn't enough to violate school, county, or state policy. Having worked with investigators from Fairfax County in the past, I have to say they leave ALOT to be desired.

FCPS has issued a statement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/lanigan-update-fairfax-schools-issue-statement/2011/05/16/AFhN8A5G_blog.html

Apparently the accuser posted on Facebook about him lying on her:

“it wuz a joke tho lyk always he picks up gurls as a joke nd I feel rlly bad. Nd I swear I dident wnt to go this far I told cuz some1 told me too nd I thought he wud just get a warning but no:(.”

Forget the coach, they should send her English teacher to jail!

Yes, some children do lie
Getting away with slander

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/vernon/110516

Not only the kid, but I bet some of the people taking the side of accuser was flinging lies.

FCPS has no cameras in it's school, so I'm not sure what database the police were looking at.

I thought they had video cameras to prevent theft in the cafeterias.

"...his past behavior caused some of his problems."

Hmmm... I don't think so. The headline-grabbing accusations against him were what got the investigation going.

He was not accused of inappropriately handling kids during PE. He was accused of forcing a kid into a private room and sexually assaulting her. If you can't see the difference then you have a problem.

Historyteacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FCPS has no cameras in it's school, so I'm not
> sure what database the police were looking at.


I can't belive there are still people who belive the no camera thing.
The rule is "No cameras in the classroom" The rest of the school is under surveillance 24/7

There's no surveillance database, There's a video monitor in the cafeterias to give workers a better angle on the food line.

I think Lanigan should go after the parents for the legal fees and damages in civil court and then hopefully the parents name will make the paper and the internet and will subsequently ruin this young girl's reputation via deduction of her name. Only fair AND this young sociopath will grow up and will go to college and God only knows what other false accusations she will claim against boyfriends and professors. This girl is a known bully and obviously a sociopath and those behaviors do not go away.

And yes, he should also go after the county and also go after the detective in civil court. The county will not stand behind an employee who engages in wrong doing--just like that female police officer who ran a light and killed a person and did not follow protocol with regards to the car lights. The county did not back that officer nor should they back this Ms. Christian bozo.

Les Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FCPS has issued a statement.
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-n
> ova/post/lanigan-update-fairfax-schools-issue-stat
> ement/2011/05/16/AFhN8A5G_blog.html


Mr. Lanigan has not signed the so-called "release" mentioned in this article, because it is not mainly an agreement to allow the FCPS to "release" information about the situation (althought that may be an incidental condition), rather it is a "release" which, if signed by Mr. Lanigan, would "release" FCPS from any further liability in connection with the case. Is it any wonder why Mr. Lanigan would not sign such a "release"?

Hey County_worker. Its time for you to quit your job and move out of this area. You appear to be the "class of people" who is bring down this great country. THis was a great country before lilly people like you decided that everybody is guilty unless proved innocent.

Amazing...

Just because Sean Lanigan wasn't found guilty doesn't mean he didn't do it.

Re: Fairfax teacher Sean Lanigan still suffering from false molestation allegations new
Posted by: county worker ()
Date: May 16, 2011 05:54PM


Detective abusing her position? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is Mr. Lanigan able to sue Detective Nicole
> Christian (what an interesting last name)? He
> should be able to if she zealously threatened
> anyone who tried to provide information that might
> have helped Mr. Lanigan and prevented this case
> from going to court.


It is a shame what happened to Mr L but his past behavior caused some of his problems. He had some complaints about his behavior as a teacher and as a coach. The FCPD reviewed countless hours of video from the schools surveillance database which revealed numerous instances of questionable conduct. The investigator was doing her job to the best of her ability. Had Lanigan not been charged and another incident taken place the FCPD would have been under 100 times more scrutiny than they are now. Our justice system is not perfect but is one of the best in the history of the world.

I'm sorry WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don't charge someone with crime because of of what might happen in the future,,
Lets face it the police, the school system, the comm. atty. office screwed up,,

I have seen a "school surveillance tape". They do have them around the schools, but obviously not in the PE equipment room. Teachers, staff, students are well aware of where they are. Unless a crime has been committed in camera view, it is doubtful reviewing hours and hours of video would have revealed anything. And, I doubt they keep hours and hours of video in a database anywhere - even 7-11 doesn't keep more than a few days.

Anyway, the one I saw, you could hardly identify the individual who was actually committing vandalism. I doubt any "school surveillance camera" caught Mr. Lanigan doing anything questionable or the prosecution would have been all over it.

Glad to hear he was cleared of the sexual assault charges. They were false, so whatever restitution needs to happen should. But if he's picking up sixth grade girls "all the time" as their PE teacher or coach, I don't want him to land in my daughter's school. Court case aside, that behavior is inappropriate for their teacher.

He did it Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just because Sean Lanigan wasn't found guilty
> doesn't mean he didn't do it.

No, but the little brat's Facebook post that the allegation was a joke certainly suggests that he didn't. Apparently the jury thought so too, given that they needed so little time to find him not guilty.

It looks like he didn't sexually assault the child but I can't say I want this guy in our schools.

He seems like a loose cannon to me.

Isn't it just a bit odd that his teacher's association (union?) didn't back him up?

on the fence Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It looks like he didn't sexually assault the child
> but I can't say I want this guy in our schools.
>
> He seems like a loose cannon to me.
>
> Isn't it just a bit odd that his teacher's
> association (union?) didn't back him up?



So you have all of these people from the community who know this man who say he's a great guy, you have a school system who has looked for a reason to fire him for misconduct who couldn't find anything, a cop who overstepped her boundaries in trying to prosecute/railroad the guy for something he didn't do and all it takes is for someone to lob a false accusation and you consider him a "loose cannon".

Lemme tell you something... a loose cannon would have gone berserk and not handled this as calmly as this guy did.

This dumb ass little girl ruined this man's life because she couldn't abide by the rules or acknowledge she needed to change how she was acting and yet here you are STILL with this impression in your mind that this guy was a "loose cannon".

You're the special kind of idiot that will prevent this guy from ever being able to completely get over what that dumb ass little kid did too him.

Duhhhhh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> on the fence Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It looks like he didn't sexually assault the
> child
> > but I can't say I want this guy in our schools.
> >
> > He seems like a loose cannon to me.
> >
> > Isn't it just a bit odd that his teacher's
> > association (union?) didn't back him up?
>
>
>
> So you have all of these people from the community
> who know this man who say he's a great guy, you
> have a school system who has looked for a reason
> to fire him for misconduct who couldn't find
> anything, a cop who overstepped her boundaries in
> trying to prosecute/railroad the guy for something
> he didn't do and all it takes is for someone to
> lob a false accusation and you consider him a
> "loose cannon".
>
> Lemme tell you something... a loose cannon would
> have gone berserk and not handled this as calmly
> as this guy did.
>
> This dumb ass little girl ruined this man's life
> because she couldn't abide by the rules or
> acknowledge she needed to change how she was
> acting and yet here you are STILL with this
> impression in your mind that this guy was a "loose
> cannon".
>
> You're the special kind of idiot that will prevent
> this guy from ever being able to completely get
> over what that dumb ass little kid did too him.


The guy hated that girl since she was in 4th grade. I remember he used to give her time outs all the time. and he would yell at her and once he send her to the principal office. the girl looks good but she kinda of a bitch. I don't like her and when she was not in trouble he was her best teacher. She was suspsned from partol and after the inncident her other teachers would write up her to the office twice. so they knew about it and they where not happy with her. They should of let her changed schools and did like some of the 6th graders in the school but who wouldnt

Duhhhhh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You're the special kind of idiot that will prevent
> this guy from ever being able to completely get
> over what that dumb ass little kid did too him.

You aren't going to change the mind of people who firmly believe if someone was arrested that they are guilty of something, even if it wasn't what they were arrested for. It's called being an un-American, uneducated dipshit and no forum post is going to cure it.

From some of the parental comments, it seems there's also a contingent who viewed the physical play as too rough and want to get SL removed even if contact is non-sexual in nature. Remarks from them appear intended to distort any situations involving SL.

One would hope that the little bitch's parents would step up to the plate and help that guy out.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One would hope that the little bitch's parents
> would step up to the plate and help that guy out.


she is a cute girl but she can f up your life if she hates you lol. Shes a cool 7th grader at Liberty Middle school now.

The world is filled with sexual deviants and molestors-parents need to be on guard.

I don't want some 40 year old man that I barely know touching my daughter-PERIOD.

The guys seems more than eager to want to touch little girls. It is weird.

I am the first one to jump on FCPS from screwing up, but something doesn't add up about this guy.

Is he as "friendly" with young boys?

The above post is a sex crime. I don't know why anyone would be a teacher of any subject. I guess our society deserves the education level it has, with a spiraling pattern of undereducated adults doing their best to take down those willing to be teachers. The populace gets dumber so the quality of teaching gets worse. These same parents will go on to wonder why their kids are still living at home, unable to get jobs because they offer nothing at all an employee would pay money for. they spend their time focusing on everything around their kids, but not their kids. It is sad.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2011 09:54AM by justsayin.

not so simple Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The world is filled with sexual deviants and
> molestors-parents need to be on guard.
>
> I don't want some 40 year old man that I barely
> know touching my daughter-PERIOD.
>
> The guys seems more than eager to want to touch
> little girls. It is weird.
>
> I am the first one to jump on FCPS from screwing
> up, but something doesn't add up about this guy.
>
> Is he as "friendly" with young boys?


He just played wit girls cause they liked it. They liked getting pick up and it was never nothing sexual. maybe he looked at them when the were doing push ups and all but thats all. and he would give us hive five but honesltt what boy would like to be pick up.

To help my male students prepare for an environment in which the usual student-teacher interactions can be misconstrued ­– intentionally or unintentionally – I have developed a list I call the “Six Nevers”. They illustrate how the threat of false accusations can interfere with the development of a warm, caring relationship between students and teachers, and why males considering teaching as a profession might have second thoughts.

Never touch a student!

Never be alone with a student, and never in a closed classroom!

Never use language/tone that can be interpreted as anything but professional.

Never use Facebook/Internet to chat or communicate with students!

Never maintain an outside school association with a student/family.

Never allow your guard to falter!

Great article Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, some children do lie
> Getting away with slander
>
> http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/vernon/110516
>
> Not only the kid, but I bet some of the people
> taking the side of accuser was flinging lies.

From the article...

Speaking of which: In extreme cases, it might be time to review and consider exceptions to the law that says the name of a minor in such a case can never be publicly revealed.

Totally agree. Her name and photo should be released so people (especially her other teachers) can make sure they're never in a situation where they're alone with her.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

be nice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Warhawk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > One would hope that the little bitch's parents
> > would step up to the plate and help that guy
> out.
>
>
> she is a cute girl but she can f up your life if
> she hates you lol. Shes a cool 7th grader at
> Liberty Middle school now.

Not cute, not cool, not ever. This is the kind of person who ages badly. Ugly core.

"The guy hated that girl since she was in 4th grade. I remember he used to give her time outs all the time. and he would yell at her and once he send her to the principal office. the girl looks good but she kinda of a bitch. I don't like her and when she was not in trouble he was her best teacher. She was suspsned from partol and after the inncident her other teachers would write up her to the office twice. so they knew about it and they where not happy with her. They should of let her changed schools and did like some of the 6th graders in the school but who wouldnt"

Are you a retard? Is this really the way that you write? Do you ever do anything in school other than fingerpaint and play dodgeball?

not so simple Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The world is filled with sexual deviants and
> molestors-parents need to be on guard.
>
> I don't want some 40 year old man that I barely
> know touching my daughter-PERIOD.
>
> The guys seems more than eager to want to touch
> little girls. It is weird.
>
> I am the first one to jump on FCPS from screwing
> up, but something doesn't add up about this guy.
>
> Is he as "friendly" with young boys?

Most molestation victims are molested by their parents. Maybe you shouldn't touch your children.

good advice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Never touch a student!
>
> Never be alone with a student, and never in a
> closed classroom!
>
> Never use language/tone that can be interpreted as
> anything but professional.
>
> Never use Facebook/Internet to chat or communicate
> with students!
>
> Never maintain an outside school association with
> a student/family.
>
> Never allow your guard to falter!

To be safe, you can use one of these:
Attachments:

-----------------------------------------------

"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

Look, I don't think it is natural for a grown man to want to be around young girls all the time. Teaching and coaching or whatever....why the girls?

If he loves kids, why is it always girls?

I think there might be some underlying emotional issues with this guy. Being in schools with kids gives him a sense of power, control??

We don't see a lot of male teachers in elementary schools and there is a reason for it-it is unnatural.

Is dodgeball still allowed in schools? I thought it went the away as did peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in school lunch menus.

If sex was a criteria for picking teachers for elementary school, then women would be out as PE teachers because of the common stereotype that they tended to be lesbians.

Dodgeball is a thinly veiled metaphor for western expansion and racial hegemony; hence it is no longer allowed in Fairfax County Schools. Spelling, too, is linear and constrictive of a child's creative impulse and thus is only taught to the degree that a student understands emoticons...

Schools Monday: When A Principal Grows Pot
One day you're leading a Just Say No to Drugs campaign at the elementary school where you're the assistant principal, and then you turn around and find yourself arrested and charged with growing and packaging marijuana in a closet in your house.


That's the predicament in which Leonard Marsh of Fairfax Station finds himself. Marsh, 50, was nabbed by Fairfax police last week and charged with manufacturing marijuana. His wife, Jinny, 56, was charged with possession. Within hours, his photo vanished from the web site of Cub Run Elementary School, the well-regarded Centreville school where he was the #2 official. The Fairfax school system placed Marsh on administrative leave.

other considerations Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Look, I don't think it is natural for a grown man
> to want to be around young girls all the time.
> Teaching and coaching or whatever....why the
> girls?
>
> If he loves kids, why is it always girls?
>
> I think there might be some underlying emotional
> issues with this guy. Being in schools with kids
> gives him a sense of power, control??
>
> We don't see a lot of male teachers in elementary
> schools and there is a reason for it-it is
> unnatural.

Stereotype much?

Almost all of the PE teachers my kids have had have been male, several regular teachers as well. Never had an issue with any of them. I had a few male teachers back in school as well. No problems.

Predators don't bring up sex right away; they "groom" their victims first by doing little things to build their trust. If you're unsure about someone's behavior, check for these warning signs:


1 If he gives you inappropriate compliments: It's fine for him to say "you look nice today", but if he says "you look sexy", that's NOT okay. It shows he's seeing you in a sexual way.

2 If he talks about his sex life in class: Authority figures shouldn't try to be like one of your buddies. This shows his boundaries are skewed.

3 If he tries to get alone time with you: He may ask to meet before class or after school, or off school property. His motive might be to get you away from your friends so no one else will be able to back up your story, and you'll feel more vulnerable. Now this does not mean that if he asks you to stay after class because he wants to talk about your homework or test dose not mean you are to start running to the office just remember to ask why he wants to see you.

4 If he gives you special treatment: He might assign you easier homework, or give extra help or a better grade that you don't deserve He wants you to feel like you owe him, so when he asks you to do something inappropriate, you'll feel obligated.

5 If he asks you personal questions: He may want to know about guys, your family, and other things that have nothing to do with academics. And he'll tell you stuff about HIS private life.

6 If he disses your parents: He might say, "your mom and dad are lame. They don't appreciate how great you are!" He's trying to distance you from your folks, so you won't tell them when something is up.

7 If he gives you more then just a pat on the back: If he puts his arm around you, massages your shoulders, or strokes your hair, he's trying to make you feel comfortable, so you won't think it's inappropriate when he tries something else. . .

8 If he asks you to stay quiet: During conversation, he might say something like "if anyone knew we talked like this they wouldn't understand so please don't say anything, because it might get me in trouble. “This makes you feel like you're keeping a secret, and that if you tell, you're betraying his trust.

9 If he just gives you that yucky feeling: If you feel like something is off about him tell someone like your mom or best friend, listen to your gut-it's usually right!

other considerations Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Look, I don't think it is natural for a grown man
> to want to be around young girls all the time.
> Teaching and coaching or whatever....why the
> girls?
>
> If he loves kids, why is it always girls?
>
> I think there might be some underlying emotional
> issues with this guy. Being in schools with kids
> gives him a sense of power, control??
>
> We don't see a lot of male teachers in elementary
> schools and there is a reason for it-it is
> unnatural.


Please quote me anywhere in the plethora of documentation on this case that says this guy only played with girls, only taught girls or only coached girls.

I'll wait.

If you can not find a specific, direct quote that supports this asinine idea you have, I would imagine that then makes your resulting theories invalid.

(ie. there can't be some sort of emotional issue exposing itself via his only working with girls, if he in fact, works with all kids)

If your theories are invalid, I would guess that the assumptions you made about this man's character are flawed as well since they are based on incorrect theories.

Once we get to that point, I'd hope you would look at yourself, at your train of thought, at the leaps of logic you undertook to come up with your comments and realize you are an oxygen thief.

In the testimony from students did this teacher pick up and twirl boys around too?

Duhhhhh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> other considerations Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Look, I don't think it is natural for a grown
> man
> > to want to be around young girls all the time.
> > Teaching and coaching or whatever....why the
> > girls?
> >
> > If he loves kids, why is it always girls?
> >
> > I think there might be some underlying
> emotional
> > issues with this guy. Being in schools with
> kids
> > gives him a sense of power, control??
> >
> > We don't see a lot of male teachers in
> elementary
> > schools and there is a reason for it-it is
> > unnatural.
>
>
> Please quote me anywhere in the plethora of
> documentation on this case that says this guy only
> played with girls, only taught girls or only
> coached girls.
>
> I'll wait.
>
> If you can not find a specific, direct quote that
> supports this asinine idea you have, I would
> imagine that then makes your resulting theories
> invalid.
>
> (ie. there can't be some sort of emotional issue
> exposing itself via his only working with girls,
> if he in fact, works with all kids)
>
> If your theories are invalid, I would guess that
> the assumptions you made about this man's
> character are flawed as well since they are based
> on incorrect theories.
>
> Once we get to that point, I'd hope you would look
> at yourself, at your train of thought, at the
> leaps of logic you undertook to come up with your
> comments and realize you are an oxygen thief.

Don't feed the troll

"Predators don't bring up sex right away; they "groom" their victims first by doing little things to build their trust. If you're unsure about someone's behavior, check for these warning signs:


1 If he gives you inappropriate compliments: It's fine for him to say "you look nice today", but if he says "you look sexy", that's NOT okay. It shows he's seeing you in a sexual way.

2 If he talks about his sex life in class: Authority figures shouldn't try to be like one of your buddies. This shows his boundaries are skewed.

3 If he tries to get alone time with you: He may ask to meet before class or after school, or off school property. His motive might be to get you away from your friends so no one else will be able to back up your story, and you'll feel more vulnerable. Now this does not mean that if he asks you to stay after class because he wants to talk about your homework or test dose not mean you are to start running to the office just remember to ask why he wants to see you.

4 If he gives you special treatment: He might assign you easier homework, or give extra help or a better grade that you don't deserve He wants you to feel like you owe him, so when he asks you to do something inappropriate, you'll feel obligated.

5 If he asks you personal questions: He may want to know about guys, your family, and other things that have nothing to do with academics. And he'll tell you stuff about HIS private life.

6 If he disses your parents: He might say, "your mom and dad are lame. They don't appreciate how great you are!" He's trying to distance you from your folks, so you won't tell them when something is up.

7 If he gives you more then just a pat on the back: If he puts his arm around you, massages your shoulders, or strokes your hair, he's trying to make you feel comfortable, so you won't think it's inappropriate when he tries something else. . .

8 If he asks you to stay quiet: During conversation, he might say something like "if anyone knew we talked like this they wouldn't understand so please don't say anything, because it might get me in trouble. “This makes you feel like you're keeping a secret, and that if you tell, you're betraying his trust.

9 If he just gives you that yucky feeling: If you feel like something is off about him tell someone like your mom or best friend, listen to your gut-it's usually right!"


Thanks for the tips, Detective Christian! Aren't you a little behind quota for lives ruined this week?

Boy, things are so different nowadays. I remember Coach Christie. He was a mentor, friend, always interested in what I was doing, always there when I needed an adult other than my parents to talk to..

He buggered me seven ways to Sunday, too...

You're motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right

Why do you think they became teachers.

I don't think it is as bad as the Catholic Church.

So, we've all come to the conclusion that Sean Lanigan has suffered and now has am empty feeling due to falsely being accused. He's got extraordinary legal fees that hopefully, he'll be able to recover.

However, putting aside the false accusations made by this student who had a vendetta against him, still doesn't make Mr. Lanigan a perfect individual.

1) What about those nights when Mr. Lanigan was on "out-of-town" coaching trips and found time to shack up with other females. What kind of disrespect was he showing for his wife at those moments?

2) Then, we have the issue when Mr. Lanigan graciously gave one of the fellow female teachers a "gift" of a Cosmopolitan magazine where he carefully cut out pictures from a porno magazine and pasted them onto the pages of Cosmo? Fortunately, that teacher didn't make any waves by reporting this incident. However, she probably should have - as, I'm sure the school would have taken care of Mr. Lanigan and it probably would have prevented this recent mess as he would have probably been fired or re-assigned somewhere else.

3) Also, there's the issue of Mr. Lanigan once working at Stone middle school. He was then transferred to Centre-Ridge elementary. What kind of "hanky-panky" led to this transfer?

There are still lots of questions that remain out there regarding Mr. Lanigan's judgement in these situations. Hopefully, he'll learn to think with his right "head" before he gets involved in a situation that he'll be unable to get out of.

I do wish him luck in digging out of the current hole, though. It's a big and deep one.

FCPS wants each teacher and student to live by THEIR script - not have a thought or a feeling all on their own....they do not teach how to think, they preach WHAT to think.

The truth will now set us free.

So, now, Mr. Lanigan isn't nearly the "family man" he would like us all to believe.

FCPS made the right choice by getting rid of this guy.

Nighr rider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You're motoring
> What's your price for flight
> In finding mister right

I love this song.

Cutting out the pages of a Cosmopolitan Magazine and inserting porn photos...brilliant! Thanks for the tip...I can't want to do this to those unsmiling bitches with whom I share teaching duties at....hmm, better not tell you the school...

So, we've all come to the conclusion that Sean Lanigan has suffered and now has am empty feeling due to falsely being accused. He's got extraordinary legal fees that hopefully, he'll be able to recover.

However, putting aside the false accusations made by this student who had a vendetta against him, still doesn't make Mr. Lanigan a perfect individual.

1) What about those nights when Mr. Lanigan was on "out-of-town" coaching trips and found time to shack up with other females. What kind of disrespect was he showing for his wife at those moments?

2) Then, we have the issue when Mr. Lanigan graciously gave one of the fellow female teachers a "gift" of a Cosmopolitan magazine where he carefully cut out pictures from a porno magazine and pasted them onto the pages of Cosmo? Fortunately, that teacher didn't make any waves by reporting this incident. However, she probably should have - as, I'm sure the school would have taken care of Mr. Lanigan and it probably would have prevented this recent mess as he would have probably been fired or re-assigned somewhere else.

3) Also, there's the issue of Mr. Lanigan once working at Stone middle school. He was then transferred to Centre-Ridge elementary. What kind of "hanky-panky" led to this transfer?

There are still lots of questions that remain out there regarding Mr. Lanigan's judgement in these situations. Hopefully, he'll learn to think with his right "head" before he gets involved in a situation that he'll be unable to get out of.

I do wish him luck in digging out of the current hole, though. It's a big and deep one.


Wow, that's a lot of innuendo you're spreading around. Among your completely unsubstantiated accusations, what's the big deal about bring transferred from one school to another? "Hanky panky"? Teachers get transferred from one school to another all the time...are you saying that every transfer is due to some sort of sexual crime? I hope Lannigan doesn't suffer under the impression that you're a "friend."

No doubt he's innocent, but he doesn't have to be a perfect individual to teach, no more than the parents that are still complaining.

This guy lacks both common sense and a moral compass.

We don't need him in our schools.

Did she leave him yet?

Team Maria Shiver

I love how the anonymous slanderers are coming out of the woodwork. Cough up some evidence (names, dates, photos, etc.) or shut the fuck up. This guy has suffered enough.

Ut videam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I love how the anonymous slanderers are coming out
> of the woodwork. Cough up some evidence (names,
> dates, photos, etc.) or shut the fuck up. This guy
> has suffered enough.

You're quite funny. Who needs dates, names, photos, etc.? When Mr. Lanigan reads through these threads, I'm sure it will all come back to him as clear as day. He'll remember all those "close calls" in the past. He should have been stopped years ago, but other teachers were too afraid of retribution, etc. in going forward with making reports on his behavior.

I'm not implying in any way that Mr. Lanigan has issues with children - that's not my intent. I'm just trying to point out that Mr. Lanigan isn't as perfect as he'd like people to believe from his little sob story in the Washington Post. He's a clown. At some point in his life, he's got to make the decision to grow up and be responsible.

I don't believe anyone here is saying Lanigan is "perfect." What people are saying is that he was railroaded by a out-of control cop, and left to dry by the administration..well, except for the staff who were threatened with obstruction of justice charges if they got in the way of the "investigation."

You seem to be taking great delight in making these accusations towards Lanigan...are you disappointed that he isn't in jail right this minute? Are you a fellow teacher? Unfortunately for you, it isn't a crime in Fairfax (yet) to "not be perfect."

Why don't you and some of your like-thinking pals ambush Lanigan, beat him, and send him out of town on the next train? Would that make you feel better?

A little information for all those who only deal with the courts for their weed charges:
A Magistrate found probable cause to issue the arrest warrants
A Judge found there was enough evidence at the preliminary hearing to send to Grand Jury
A Grand Jury (of his peers) indicted him
A Judge chose not to dismiss it and let it go to the jury
An acquital is completely different than falsely accused

Weren't OJ and Michael Jackson acquitted???

OK, smarty pants...

A Magistrate found probable cause to issue the arrest warrants
A Judge found there was enough evidence at the preliminary hearing to send to Grand Jury
A Grand Jury (of his peers) indicted him
A Judge chose not to dismiss it and let it go to the jury
An acquital is completely different than falsely accused

But a jury dismissed all charges in 47 minutes...sounds like one overzealous true-believer cop thought she had her man, started the ball rolling, and no one, not a migstrate, judge 1, Grand Jury, or Judge 2, actually looked at the facts and the ridiculous testimony of the plaintif, and derailed this idocy.

A jury of non-lawyers, but all of whom thankfully possessed some degree of intellect threw this ridiculous case out in, let me repeat this...47 minutes!

So you're implying that he actually is guilty? You're comparing Lanigan to OJ?

What an asshat...

"A little information for all those who only deal with the courts for their weed charges"...

Very funny...your lame defense of the court system in this pathetic case was even funnier...

It's a damn shame that such a mess ends up with donations being made to a neighborhood bank account, in his name, as if he's an indigent needing a kidney.That's a profession??

Um... he was deprived of his livelihood on account of false accusations made against him. I don't really see a problem with setting up an account to help the guy and his family out.

What I meant was that it's an indictment of the entire system, that such a shoddy investigation can be done, knee jerk decisions based on so little, etc. If it was really a profession, all people in the industry would act PROFESSIIONally.

In other industries, there would be no reason for donations. I've already made mine.

justsayin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Where do they have an obligation to do that? They
> have an obligation to supply a place and teachers
> using public funding, that is about it. The rest
> is there to protect against lawsuits. Parents out
> of room = only one story.


Ever heard the term, "in loco parentis"?

Washington Post Editorial: Fairfax County needs to right the wrongs against Sean Lanigan

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fairfax-county-needs-to-right-the-wrongs-against-sean-lanigan/2011/05/17/AFYJRl6G_story.html

Lanny Davis on Huffington Post goes even further, and it looks like Nicole Christian appears to have done this before.

I wish the Post had published its photographs with the word "shame" as a common caption. At the very least, therefore, I want to nominate certain individuals by name into what should be called the "Fairfax County Law Enforcement System Hall of Shame":

- First and foremost, Nicole Christian, the lead detective whose flawed and biased investigation was centrally responsible for the false charges being filed against Lanigan. The Post reported that Fairfax prosecutors subsequently dismissed another of Christian's child-abuse cases in the middle of a trial because she acknowledged misstating the facts in her sworn testimony. Has she been fired? Why not? Has she been prosecuted for perjury in the subsequent case? Why not?

- Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh, who pressed the case and obtained an indictment even after the two girls recanted key prior testimony -- and couldn't even get a jury to deliberate for more than 47 minutes before acquittal. Why isn't Morrogh embarrassed and publicly apologizing to Lanigan? Why hasn't he resigned?

- The Fairfax County Police Department, which chose to put out a press release and mug photo of Lanigan -- and now declines to comment to the Post, much less apologize to Lanigan.

- The head of the Fairfax County school district -- who is he? His name is never mentioned in the Post story. He/she or one of his/her underlings continues to hound Lanigan, treating him as if he'd been found guilty, and refuse to pay all his legal fees and take responsibility for this gross injustice.

- And regarding the two minors who caused this tragedy more than anyone else: I respect the Post's policy not to name them because they are minors. But I wonder whether they would learn a much more profound lesson if their parents forced them to take public responsibility -- and issue a public apology. At the very least, why did the parents "decline to comment" to the Post? Why didn't they apologize to Lanigan publicly?


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lanny-davis/the-shameful-case-of-sean_b_863721.html

just to devil's advocate - I can see why they would not want to go public just seeing the hatred that is going on now towards them

If your kid did this bitch-ass shit, would you want to get bricks thrown thru yr living room window every night for it?

I pray that they and Lanigan have had a sit-down apology in private, though.

As for the school system, yeah - they need to Cowboy up and do the right thing, here...........................

In one of the comments on the Huffington Post, re Lanny Davis'article, a former public defender stated:

As a former Public Defender, I even heard a judge comment, off the bench "They're all guilty of something.­" About one client who did NOT have a prior, I remember repeating to two clerks, "He was acquitted, acquitted!­" to which they responded "That doesn't mean he didn't do it." As for the lead investigat­or in Mr. Lanigan's case, she is teflon because a) the culture of any prosecutor­'s office is psychotica­lly rigid in the belief that law enforcemen­t officers do not lie, and b) do you know of any prosecutor elected without the endorsemen­t of the local law enforcemen­t organizati­ons? Regarding the school district, I can actually understand them running scared. Most of their parents probably didn't pay attention to petty details like, the kids lied, and probably think "Where there's smoke, there's fire," anyway. So the district probably feels like there's a noose around its neck having Lanigan still employed at all.

I recall a former FCPS Superintendent, Bud Spillane, uttering those exact words. FCPS mentality is that students don't lie and that even if there is a any question at all to what might be said by a student then by all means go after the teacher with guns blazing. I understand that FCPS must be proactive in protecting children but they have gone far beyond that standard.

And has been mentioned in another thread there a administrators who try to "make their bones" by going after any teacher they can.

There's a much newer comment in the Lanny Davis' article.

As the mother of the “other girl”, I would like to respond to the question as to the "two minors", and why they haven't apologized­.. My daughter was they key eye witness in this case. I have spoken with the Post, and with Fairfax Times. My daughter was a victim of harassment by not only her peers, the accuser (who lived in the same neighborho­od) and the accuser's family, but by the FCPD and FCCPS. I've written to the school and the FCPD, and had recieved a response from the school. All of which has been given to Sean and his attorney. CPS had dropped the case only weeks after Sean's hearing.
If you are interested in seeing these letters, feel free to contact me, and I will gladly send them to you. Laws were not abided by, in the interview process, in regards to my daughter. And, even after my verbal and written requests to the school and to the Detective N.C., they STILL continued to harass my daughter in school.
Had they listened from the beginning, this case should have never even gone to trial to begin with.
While the accuser continues to live a happy life in the same home and neighborho­od, I have since moved my daughter OUT of state.
My daughter owes No apologies. She has worked with DEFENDING Sean throughout the entire court process. He even gave her a hug outside of the courthouse after the verdict.

As a high school teacher and the mother of four young adults I can assure you that her parents are just like this girl. Children learn their behavior from their parents. It is a scary situation in schools these days. Amoral students abound, cheating is rampant, and responsibility is constantly shirked by parents and students. If I had seen this situation coming years ago, I would have taken my physics degree and gone into a more lucrative, less dangerous field. However, I love to teach and love children (hence the four kids) and, silly me, wanted to bring a love of math and science to young people. In the future, who will teach our kids math and science? There is already a scarcity of qualified teachers in these fields and who will be willing to tolerate the despicable treatment by parents and school administrators? I hope that FCPS will do right by Mr. Lanigan and pay his legal bills and restore his good name!

jackjohnson-is-innocent-too Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A little information for all those who only deal
> with the courts for their weed charges:
> A Magistrate found probable cause to issue the
> arrest warrants
> A Judge found there was enough evidence at the
> preliminary hearing to send to Grand Jury
> A Grand Jury (of his peers) indicted him
> A Judge chose not to dismiss it and let it go to
> the jury
> An acquital is completely different than falsely
> accused
>
> Weren't OJ and Michael Jackson acquitted???


Wow! lifted straight from the a certain someone's commentary.

Les Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's a much newer comment in the Lanny Davis'
> article.
>
> As the mother of the “other girl”, I would
> like to respond to the question as to the "two
> minors", and why they haven't apologized­.. My
> daughter was they key eye witness in this case. I
> have spoken with the Post, and with Fairfax Times.
> My daughter was a victim of harassment by not only
> her peers, the accuser (who lived in the same
> neighborho­od) and the accuser's family, but by
> the FCPD and FCCPS. I've written to the school and
> the FCPD, and had recieved a response from the
> school. All of which has been given to Sean and
> his attorney. CPS had dropped the case only weeks
> after Sean's hearing.
> If you are interested in seeing these letters,
> feel free to contact me, and I will gladly send
> them to you. Laws were not abided by, in the
> interview process, in regards to my daughter. And,
> even after my verbal and written requests to the
> school and to the Detective N.C., they STILL
> continued to harass my daughter in school.
> Had they listened from the beginning, this case
> should have never even gone to trial to begin
> with.
> While the accuser continues to live a happy life
> in the same home and neighborho­od, I have since
> moved my daughter OUT of state.
> My daughter owes No apologies. She has worked with
> DEFENDING Sean throughout the entire court
> process. He even gave her a hug outside of the
> courthouse after the verdict.


....................................................."He even gave her a hug outside of the courthouse after the verdict."..................................................


oh, I'm just gonna leave that one alone

LoLz

Teacher mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a high school teacher and the mother of four
> young adults I can assure you that her parents are
> just like this girl. Children learn their
> behavior from their parents. It is a scary
> situation in schools these days. Amoral students
> abound, cheating is rampant, and responsibility is
> constantly shirked by parents and students. If I
> had seen this situation coming years ago, I would
> have taken my physics degree and gone into a more
> lucrative, less dangerous field. However, I love
> to teach and love children (hence the four kids)
> and, silly me, wanted to bring a love of math and
> science to young people. In the future, who will
> teach our kids math and science? There is already
> a scarcity of qualified teachers in these fields
> and who will be willing to tolerate the despicable
> treatment by parents and school administrators? I
> hope that FCPS will do right by Mr. Lanigan and
> pay his legal bills and restore his good name!


I am not a teacher, but well could have been if I followed my passion. Now 30 years down the road, and nearly being done raising my own children, I could not have expressed the state of our education system and society any better. I do fear that our country will close the gap (in the wrong direction) with countries that have poor education systems, because, frankly, who will want to teach these spoiled brats with their helicopter parents who believe that their offspring are the second coming of Jesus Christ (or, if you are not Christian, parents who believe that their children are never at fault, and, even if so, are above the law).

God help us.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/lanigan-update-fairfax-chief-rohrer-issues-statement/2011/05/19/AFIsaM7G_blog.html

Well, in today's post Chief Rohrer states the witness did not recant, even though her Mother says she did. Who knows what the truth is, but I don't think Chief Rohrer is interested in anything but protecting the police officers involved. Too bad FCPS doesn't feel the same way about its exonerated employees.

"I strongly refute the allegations and character assassination statements made against our detectives in the media reports and blog comments, and will be taking additional steps along with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh, to protect their character and integrity, along with the integrity of the Police Department and his office."


I'm reading that as a threat by Chief Rohrer. I'm not sure what "additional steps" Rohrer intends to take, but given the shabby way this case was handled, it seems entirely in character with the Fairfax Police Dept that they would lash out at any criticism...


This pathetic affair just gets more dismal every day. If I was Lanigan, I would sue this county, and just take his family and get the hell out of here...

I think the FCPD and Commonwealth Attorney are inviting a Federal Investigation--

"additional steps along with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh, to protect their character and integrity, along with the integrity of the Police Department and his office."

Thats a threat, just like witnesses for the defense were threatened with obstruction of justice charges.

The fucks at FCPD are STILL trying to bury this dude and/or insist he is guilty, even in the Chief's press statement:



"In a trial held almost a year ago, the teacher was found not guilty by a jury on the charges of abduction and aggravated sexual battery. Yet, as we all know, trials, particularly in a case involving allegations and subsequent testimony by a young victim and/or a young witness, can be difficult. Most of us also know that in many trials some evidence is presented, some is not or cannot be used, and some witnesses testify, others do not. We also know that a much higher burden of proof is required to convict a person, one higher than that required to support an arrest."

and then...



"In order to convict a person of any criminal offense, the Commonwealth is required to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof in our legal system. At trial, the jury determined that the evidence presented against the teacher fell short of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The legal process regarding this case was consistent with established legal standards of due process and the right of the accused to have his case heard before a jury of his peers. Unfortunately, although we always respect a verdict as rendered by a judge or jury, almost any experienced officer and detective has experienced a verdict that is sometimes unpredictable -- yet it does not mean that the investigation was improper. "


That's basically a backhanded way of saying "ohhh, don't you fret, he did it and we ALMOST had him, but he got away on technicalities in court".

It's funny how in his press release he alludes to the police and the prosecutor only going off of what information they had available, meanwhile there's repeated proof of them actively refusing any information that didn't match their preconceived determination of what happened.

Go figure.

... and then to act like you and your officers are wrongly inconvenienced because the underbelly of this case has been exposed (by the same media that descended on this poor guy with a vengeance to start with).

The cops in this case made up their mind that they had a child molestor and went way out in left field trying to make a case to match their decision. That in itself isn't "proper protocol".

Some of their figures for don't seem quite credible. Noticed that their slide show at http://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/child-abuse-awareness-from-fairfax-county-police on child abuse incorporates figures on activity that may not constitute abuse.

"1 in 3 girls will have sexual contact with an adult."

Guess some places still prosecute 18-yr olds that date 16- and 17-year olds.

I just sent off an email to my supervisor asking for this matter to be brought up with the entire Board of Supervisors.

Everyone is complaining because the Police charged him but whenever the Police don't charge someone in a case like this there would still be complaining.
People are never happy!

I was recently asked to do some volunteer work with students at a Fairfax County school. After reading about the Lanigan case, I phoned my contact at the school and told her no fucking way (OK, I didn't really say "fucking") would I would risk my reputation and career being a volunteer at the school, considering the way the Fairfax police perform their "investigations, and the way that the school system would hang me out to dry if any psycho student might decide to make some unfounded acusatory statement about me...what kind of chance would I have with Detective Christian on the case?

And that statement by Chief Rohrer...I actually thought that was some sort of bit of cutting and pasting words by a clever FFX'er...but the fact that Rohrer actually said that...disguesting...first, implying that Lanigan was guilty, but had somehow slipped through the court system, because of what...a gullable jury quickly swayed by a slippery defense lawyer? How about a case that didn't hold water for five minutes?

And then, to say that "additional steps" are being taken to defend his officers? What the hell does that mean? What sort of additional steps does our distinguished chief have in mind? Sounds like a threat to me...

Finding something better to do with my spare time than be a volunteer at a Fairfax County school...

Les Wrote:
> My daughter owes No apologies. She has worked with
> DEFENDING Sean throughout the entire court
> process. He even gave her a hug outside of the
> courthouse after the verdict.

So dude STILL hasn't learned?

edit by Cary (the admin): This post was from a FiOS connection in Newark, NJ. A few posts have grabbed national attention recently and we've had a corresponding flood of "out-of-area" posters on this board. This particular post isn't too egregious but many others are. FiOS users in Newark, NJ and "SBCGlobal" users in Tennessee were just blocked from posting to this forum.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2011 06:13PM by Cary.

He didn't get off on a technicality, he wasn't found guilty because he wasn't guilty. The witness had lied about the whole thing. She confessed to lying. There's nothing more anyone can do unless there is some REAL evidence to show otherwise.

Any guess who the employee is here?

Fairfax County School Board minutes: March 24, 2011

http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/minutes/documents/20110324R.pdf


http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/minutes/index.htm

hmmmmmm ..................$60 k is nice chunk of change :)

His legal expenses were twice that.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hmmmmmm ..................$60 k is nice chunk of
> change :)

this just in . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/lanigan-update-readers-send-thousands-to-defense-fund/2011/05/23/AFPDJv9G_blog.html

Interesting case of Salvatore Culosi where the FCPD tried to set him up on gambling charges, inadvertently killed him in a SWAT team raid, and then tried to cover it up...

http://williamlanderson.blogspot.com/2011/05/sean-lanigan-is-lucky-at-least-fairfax.html

I hope that he sues that girls family and FCPS.

@GMU Hokie - which is why I used the word "change"

@Fegelein - I agree wholehartedly with suing FCPS - but you cant sue a kid, I dont think...........

@Les - it's offtopic - but yeah, it's A-MAY-ZING how we, the citizens of Fairfax County have let that MURDER of that dude slide. Were there any guns in the house at the time of the raid?

Betting on football games, not table games. Unarmed. No drugs as alleged. It's the first I had heard of the case. Didn't this occur well before the state's big crackdown on poker games?

There's something big being overlooked in this whole issue. Sure, Sean Lanigan is being a crybaby about his fees that incurred for hiring a lawyer for his defense.

1) If he was so sure he was "innocent", why did he have to hire such a high-priced lawyer? I'm sure he was scared that things could turn out quite wrong for him, so he found a pricey lawyer to ensure he'd be taken care of.

2) Additionally, teachers in the public school system are offered the opportunity to purchase legal defense insurance. They can have this premium for this insurance deducted from their paychecks. Now, given the situations that we hear about teachers facing each and every day, why didn't he buy this insurance? He gambled - and lost.

For those of us out there that work in other professions, we care that our families would be provided for if we were injured and couldn't work anymore. Thus, we purchase disability insurance if given the option. That is pretty much common sense. In Sean's case, I think the same logic applies. He had the opportunity to buy that insurance, but didn't. If he had, these legal fees wouldn't have been an issue.

Oh, Oh, Sean - he hired a high priced lawyer because that is what it takes to obtain effective representation. This was of course reflected in the Duke Lacrosse case, where a competent team of defense lawyers vivisected a hoax being perpetrated by the DA, who conspired to hide the fact that the alleged victim (now on trial for murder for an unrelated event) had on her underwear the DNA of 5 different men, none of whom were among the 46 members of the team. Those lawyers were diligent and poured through thousands of pages of documents to discover the hoax. Darn right Lanigan hired a good defense attorney - the vast resources of the County were arrayed against him - and those resources insisted on bringing the case even though the accuser recanted her earlier statements, as did other witnesses. No one familiar with legal processes would have recommended any other course of action.

This case concerns me greatly, because the Commonwealth Attorney and the detective tried a case to prove a narrative - that teacher/student sexual abuse is a problem and that because it is so accusers never lie - as opposed to trying a case to prove a set of facts. It undermines our justice system when prosecutors and the police proceed in this manner. Indeed, they undermine future legitimate sexual abuse prosecutions as well.

Don't take any of this as a defense of Lanigan's conduct from a professional standpoint. But he certainly did not deserve a criminal trial. And above all else, a prosecutor's duty is not to win, but to do justice. In this respect their responsibilities differ from criminal defense attorneys.

By the way, the accuser and her family in my view merit ample scorn. What kind of parents would permit their daughter to engage in such manipulative behavior, and then support it through a laughable trial which resulted in giving this girl a reputation and a way of dealing with problems which will significantly impair her life?

@oh oh sean is ridiculous - I shudder to think of yr kid telling you they were sexually assaulted and them having to deal with you saying "PROVE IT" to them :(

can you even think that maybe the parents believed their kid, didnt know she was lying? Is there ANY proof to suggest otherwise? If so, then I digress and yeah, they should be dragged thru the mud for misusing the legal system.

But if not, then I humbly suggest you STFU. Kids should be believed when stuff like this comes up, and the shit needs to be investigated. Where things handled wrong in this case? YES! But to blame the parents for believing their daughter and not the accused rapist of their daughter - that's just ludicrous. Not unless you have some proof they KNEW she was lying...................

and not just some "oh, I believe it because blah blah blah", I mean real proof



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2011 11:33AM by Gordon Blvd.

^None of that matters. There was no case against him. They tried to persecute the man by intimidating witnesses and bankrupting him. Defense fund or no, the taxpayers will probably have to foot the bill to cover the fees and compensatory damages.

I feel sorry for the teacher.

His life has been ruined and the lives of his family.

He is also broke and the school will not give him enough money to settle.

FCPS needs to settle this NOW! Make the man whole for the mess that THEY made outta this so we can move past this - cause the longer this drags out, the worse it gets

A little girl with a grudge against a teacher started out with a convincing accusation of molestation and a corroborating eye witness.

She ended up with no corroborating witness and a lie for her most sensational accusation. She was tripped up by pesky physical evidence. A jury acquitted the PE Teacher on the first vote without deliberation.

But she got her revenge anyway. The PE teacher is deeply in debt, will not be able to get another job due to bad publicity and he has been de-staffed by Fairfax County Public Schools. He must now decide whether to go further into debt with an expensive civil suit and he knows there is no guarantee that he can recover his losses or clear his name.

Meanwhile, the school administration, school board, police and Commonwealth’s Attorney sit back with their fat salaries and publicly funded legal staffs, waiting for this nuisance to go away.

Welcome to Fairfax County, Virginia, where the child is always right and teachers are totally disposable.

A girl with a grudge against a teacher started out with a convincing accusation of molestation and a corroborating eye witness.

She ended up with no corroborating witness and a lie for her most sensational accusation. She was tripped up by pesky physical evidence. A jury acquitted the PE Teacher on the first vote without deliberation.

But she got her revenge anyway. The PE teacher is deeply in debt, will not be able to get another job due to bad publicity and he has been de-staffed by Fairfax County Public Schools. He must now decide whether to go further into debt with an expensive civil suit and he knows there is no guarantee that he can recover his losses or clear his name.

Meanwhile, the school administration, school board, police and Commonwealth’s Attorney sit back with their fat salaries and publicly funded legal staffs, waiting for this nuisance to go away.

Welcome to Fairfax County, Virginia, where the child is always right and teachers are totally disposable.

Maybe, all of you missed my first point in my response. Sean Lanigan, as a teacher, is offered the option to purchase legal assistance insurance. He obviously didn't select this benefit option. It seems to me with the issues that get brought up in schools nowadays (whether manufacturered or real), one would opt for this insurance.

'Nuff said.

Oh, Oh, Sean Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe, all of you missed my first point in my
> response. Sean Lanigan, as a teacher, is offered
> the option to purchase legal assistance insurance.
> He obviously didn't select this benefit option.
> It seems to me with the issues that get brought up
> in schools nowadays (whether manufacturered or
> real), one would opt for this insurance.

Actually, dumbass, your first point was casting doubt upon his innocence:

1) If he was so sure he was "innocent", why did he have to hire such a high-priced lawyer? I'm sure he was scared that things could turn out quite wrong for him, so he found a pricey lawyer to ensure he'd be taken care of.

> 'Nuff said.

Indeed.

Oh, Oh, Sean Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe, all of you missed my first point in my
> response. Sean Lanigan, as a teacher, is offered
> the option to purchase legal assistance insurance.
> He obviously didn't select this benefit option.
> It seems to me with the issues that get brought up
> in schools nowadays (whether manufacturered or
> real), one would opt for this insurance.
>
> 'Nuff said.


Can you please provide the specific clause from FCPS benefits packet where it indicates that their pre-paid legal services fully cover any & all expenses incurred resulting from a criminal felony indictment ?

Most cover standard expenses related to housekeeping type activities: financial planning, wills, adoption, divorce, criminal misdeamenor cases (speeding) etc and in many cases still do not provide 100% coverage for even those services.

Please post the information from the FCPS legal plans ASAP.

TKS.

Amen! There is a case being tried right this moment by the same Prosecutor. They will never stop!It is sooooo easy for girls to point the finger because of the willingness to prosecute and because when they get caught in a lie, nothing happens to them. Lord have Mercy!!!!

Girls today are dressing like call girls starting at sixth grade.

Hey moms, stop dressing your girls like whores.


This girl made up the story.

Her parents should be sued too.

Give me a break! Do you know what kind of representation you get when you have a legal plan? There is an allowance of so much which doesnt even pay for the trip to the courthouse! All the expenses are not just the lawyer fees. The court charges for transcripts, investigators have to be paid. Besides, you know what it takes to defend a case like that? Many sleepless nights, constant study of the law to find a defense for the client, so the attorney has to be paid for his services (of course, some charge more than others and it is wise to shop around. Many good ones out there with not much notority).

It's part of professional liability insurance. Compensation of legal defense fees in a criminal case is very low. It's roughly what the teachers union offers ($35,000).

http://www.neamb.com/home/1212_1840.htm#

People are never happy? We are very happy when they prosecute the right person, but more than half the men in jail (at our expense) are probably innocent because of lousy police work. You know how easy it is for them to send someone to jail and how hard it is to defend yourself? Everything goes against you. The Judges bend backwards for the Police and Prosecution. Evidence that is important for the defense is not allowed in by the judge. The fact that the girl is a liar and a slut will never be known by the Jury because it will be blocked out. The girl will be treated like a little innocent girl and all the while she has a world of sexual knowledge that makes her capable of making up the story. Remember when they burnt the Witches just because the young girls said so? That's is what is happening now. It is all in what they want to believe and do. They should all have to some day have a taste of their own medicine!

Gordon - I have read your posts in the past and it is a bit silly to engage with you since it is clear you are neither very bright and certainly not very well educated.

Certainly a parent should absolutely support their child in the cases of allegations of abuse. But that is not the point. When it becomes clear (through recantation and otherwise, including an utter lack of corroboration and implausible site evidence) that not only will not a conviction obtain, but that the overwhelming majority of reasoned opinion (including a jury who literally laughed this out of court) will be absolutely dead set against this girl, a parent - who is supposed to prepare for consequences - has a higher calling and must look out for the child's long term well being. And when evidence - albeit not proof - surfaces that the family attempted to frustrate witnesses - well, that goes beyond poor judgment and belongs in the category of deeply negative enabling.

I realize that this explanation goes beyond your pithy STFU - a manifestation of our simply awesome intellect, right? But it does speak directly to your points. And I should end the discussion here, because to expect anything rational in return in unrealistic.

@ohoh - Beautiful. The "I'm so superior and you are nothing" approach to debate. Nothing like speaking to ppl who believe they are Christ.


As I said, NINE HOURS AGO:

"can you even think that maybe the parents believed their kid, didnt know she was lying? Is there ANY proof to suggest otherwise? If so, then I digress and yeah, they should be dragged thru the mud for misusing the legal system."


Next time learn to read before sprouting off like you think you can cater a wedding party from 5 loaves of bread and a cpl of fish.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2011 10:10PM by Gordon Blvd.

any of you dumbasses realize that karin lanigan - the 'poor wife', was given the option to resign (and did) because she was having sex on duty with some cops at her station? And they were both swingers and tried to sleep with women at the department...go ahead and ask them about that!

she worked for ffx pd for a few years. her husband was a weirdo and it did not come as a shock to me. just because a jury couldnt convict him DOES NOT mean he is innocent. and there was a witness however i think her mom was banging sean....

Detective Christian! Nice to see you here... bitch.

EDIT:

ccpplltt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> just because a jury couldnt convict him DOES NOT
> mean he is innocent.

"couldn't convict" is one thing. They couldn't acquit him fast enough. Your case was literally laughed out of the courtroom, Detective Christian.

> and there was a witness
> however i think her mom was banging sean....

Since your threats of prosecution for obstruction of justice fell through, you're reduced to making unverifiable claims like these, Detective? Things are going to be VERY interesting when Lanigan gets around to filing his civil case against you... bitch.

By the way, is your appearance here one of those "additional steps" to protect your "character and integrity" that "Colonel" Rohrer blustered about the other day? Because if it is, you're doing a bang-up job.

Bitch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2011 11:18PM by Ut videam.

When a cop goes over the top: more on the Lanigan case

http://www.renewamerica.com/analysis/vernon/110519

What?? Lanigan and his wife are swingers? She was banging cops?

I've been at every swingers party in Fairfax and I've never seen Lanigan or his wife.

White rock in the front yard...did I miss one?

And one of the witnesses in this case was getting nailed by Lanigan?

Gosh, why does all this sound like total made up bullshit?

Swingers? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gosh, why does all this sound like total made up
> bullshit?

'Cause that's how FCPD rolls, yo.

Next you check craigslist personals, look for the ad with the stuck keys and you'll know it's ccpplltt ...

Had Sean Lanigan not hired a good attorney, his fate could have been similar to those profiled in this book:


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/books/review/book-review-convicting-the-innocent-where-criminal-prosecutions-go-wrong-by-brandon-l-garrett.html?_r=1&nl=books&emc=booksupdateema3&pagewanted=print

Re: Fairfax teacher Sean Lanigan still suffering from false molestation allegations Posted by: Mary ()
Date: May 24, 2011 02:26PM


Give me a break! Do you know what kind of representation you get when you have a legal plan? There is an allowance of so much which doesnt even pay for the trip to the courthouse! All the expenses are not just the lawyer fees. The court charges for transcripts, investigators have to be paid. Besides, you know what it takes to defend a case like that? Many sleepless nights, constant study of the law to find a defense for the client, so the attorney has to be paid for his services (of course, some charge more than others and it is wise to shop around. Many good ones out there with not much notority).

FEA professional insuarance caps at $35K. Mr. Greenspun was the 2nd attorney for Lanigan...he's a champion.

If we can agree that something terrible has happened here; that the FCPS and FCPD are behaving in completely predictable ways, the question becomes, how do we move forward and prevent a recurrence?

What is to prevent another story against another teacher ending up with the same result ?

Where is the accountability ?

Kick out the School Board members ?

Deny the sitting BoS their reelection ?

Happy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If we can agree that something terrible has
> happened here; that the FCPS and FCPD are behaving
> in completely predictable ways, the question
> becomes, how do we move forward and prevent a
> recurrence?

yeah, the school wants to make sure teachers arent fucking students and the cops want to investigate those alllegations - very predictable LoLz
>
> What is to prevent another story against another
> teacher ending up with the same result ?

Well, dont, as an adult, get caught up in compromising positions with kids. Understand the dangers that are out there (i.e. LEARN FORM THIS INCIDENT!!)
>
> Where is the accountability ?

well, FCPS does need to owe up to errors in this - but at the same time, could open themselves to a lawsuit if they do - catch 22 in this crazy world of ours...........
>
> Kick out the School Board members ?

yeah, that'll fix little kid lies, now wont it?
>
> Deny the sitting BoS their reelection ?

I'm gonna do that anyways for other reasons, but THANKS FOR PLAYING!

Is Gordon Blvd Troll?

He/She has the same dry alcoholic bipolar writing style

HIS RICH KNOW THEY JUST PAID HIM 75K

HIS RICH KNOW THEY JUST PAID HIM 75K

Wow, hope you're not a FCPS student...you write like one, though...

$73,000 for his legal expenses

http://www.wtop.com/149/2917184/Fairfax-to-pay-falsely-accused-teacher-73000

This is why the accused should be as anonymous as the accuser until a conviction is reached. Then go after a convicted person for other victims if they come forward. The accusation alone can end a career, there is no reason anonymity can't be extended both ways until a conviction is reached.

School system repays some of falsely accused teacher’s legal fees
Since his exoneration, Lanigan has returned to work as a physical education teacher
by Gregg MacDonald, Staff Writer
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20120625/NEWS/706259959/1076/fairfaxTimes/School-system-repays-some-of-falsely-accused-teacher’s-legal-fees&template=fairfaxTimes

Fairfax County Public Schools has agreed to pay some of the legal fees of former Centre Ridge Elementary School teacher and soccer coach Sean Lanigan, who — in 2010 — was falsely accused of sexually assaulting and abducting a 12-year-old, female student.

Lanigan and the school system have agreed to a settlement of $72,838. Lanigan said he spent $125,000 on his defense.

“The School Board and Mr. Lanigan have reached a settlement on essentially the same terms that were offered to him last November,” said school system spokesman John Torre in an email. “The School Board agreed to reimburse Mr. Lanigan for the amount of his attorneys' fees from his criminal case that were not already paid to him by his teachers' union insurance policy.”

Court records show Lanigan originally sought $107,838, but only received a $35,000 insurance payment from the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers union.

In 2010, a Fairfax County jury took less than 50 minutes to come back with a not guilty verdicts in Lanigan’s trial.

Lanigan’s accuser had told the school principal Lanigan molested her in the school gym.

During the four-day trial before Circuit Court Judge Charles J. Maxfield, the sixth-grader testified she was with a friend helping Lanigan clean up the gym when Lanigan picked her up, touched her inappropriately on both the breasts and buttocks, and then carried her into a nearby storage room. The girl then said Lanigan put her down on some folded gym mats and said something about treating her "like a queen."

The girl also testified that when a school bell rang, Lanigan held her against her will and prevented her from initially leaving the room.

However, upon cross examination by Lanigan's attorney Peter D. Greenspun, the girl admitted Lanigan did not touch her buttocks, but in fact came into contact only with her upper leg.

The accuser's best friend — another sixth-grade girl who was there when the incident in question occurred — testified she saw no sexual impropriety in the way Lanigan picked up the other girl, and said the entire incident had been all in fun. The best friend also testified she was told by Lanigan's accuser the two "needed to get their stories straight" immediately after the alleged incident. Both girls were part of a school program called P.E. Pals, in which students tidy up the gym.

On the stand, Lanigan's accuser admitted to Greenspun she was mad at Lanigan for several reasons, including an earlier reprimand and threat to remove her from the P.E. Pals program.

Some of the girl’s classmates testified they had heard her say she "hated Lanigan" and later boasted about "trying to sue the school for money."

Another factor in the case was the accuser's testimony that blue gym mats had been present in the storeroom where the incident allegedly occurred. Teachers and custodial staff testified mats never are stored there, and it was physically impossible for the mats to have been in that room because of the amount of sports equipment regularly stored in the space.

After his exoneration, Lanigan, now 45, said the five-month ordeal had been "a living hell" for him and his family.

He had been a full-time physical education teacher in Fairfax County since 1997, and taught at Centre Ridge Elementary school in Centreville since 1998.

He also coached soccer at Herndon High School and led the team to three Northern Region championships during the five years he initially coached there from 1996 to 2000. He was named The Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year in 1996. He left Herndon for eight years to focus on coaching youth soccer teams, but returned as Herndon's soccer coach in 2008.

In addition to those coaching duties, he also coached youth soccer in McLean and for the Southwestern Youth Association. He also coached basketball in a community league in Centreville, where he lives with his wife and three children.

When Lanigan was charged he immediately was placed on unpaid administrative leave and was indefinitely suspended from all his coaching duties.

With no discernible income and mounting legal fees, "times were tough," he said. "We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese," Lanigan said after his trial.

"This girl flipped my life upside down and I'm trying to get everything back," he said. "It's a long process and it's not all together yet."

Since his exoneration, Lanigan has returned to work as a physical education teacher at South Lakes High School, but he said it is the Herndon coaching job that has given his life some sense of normalcy.

Within 12 hours of his acquittal, Lanigan contacted Herndon Athletics Director Mike Mahoney to ask for his coaching job back. The school agreed.

"We're like a family here," said junior goalkeeper Jack Clarke. "We wanted him to be our coach again."

and the beat goes on............


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/sean-lanigan-the-rest-of-the-story-vol-3/2012/11/08/c13c1656-278a-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_blog.html?tid=pm_local_pop

How delightful that the FFX school board fought this reimbursement case tooth and nail, costing taxpayers even more...

how crazy is that--who authorized these guys to dump money into a for mega profit lawfirm to harass a guy to cover up their shit?

read the article:

"But the real reason that Fairfax authorities stonewalled Lanigan is an 11-page “Investigative Report” by school district investigator Stephen Kerr, written a month after Lanigan’s acquittal. The report concluded that Lanigan — a hugely popular gym teacher, soccer coach and father of three -- was still an unsavory fellow, he just happened to be found not guilty by a Fairfax County jury.

Kerr’s report was riddled with inaccuracies and incomplete information (we’ll get to that in a minute), but it was circulated to top Fairfax school officials. So when Lanigan came to the district and asked that his legal fees be reimbursed, the district didn’t even bother with a reply. They just ignored him. Forced him to hire a lawyer. Then spent $141,000 of taxpayer money."

Who fucking authorized this shit? 140,000 for some kind of bullshit railroad?

And "top faifax officials viewed it"?

Who, and why don't we know who they are, and who gave them the power to decide?

How hard is it to admit a mistake, pay the guy's legal bills, and move on? You can (almost) see the initial overreaction, taking the kids side, etc., - but once it's proved false, this should be a no-brainer.

the borg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How hard is it to admit a mistake, pay the guy's
> legal bills, and move on? You can (almost) see
> the initial overreaction, taking the kids side,
> etc., - but once it's proved false, this should be
> a no-brainer.


Lanigan supposedly had a number of issues and complaints on his record from his younger teaching days and the school board initially saw this kid touching incident as a way to finally be rid of him I think.

The fact of the matter is that it is unlikely that he has ever abused any kid and he did not deserve what was done to him. I think a 50/50 split on his legal fees would have been reasonable.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> and the beat goes on............
>
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-n
> ova/post/sean-lanigan-the-rest-of-the-story-vol-3/
> 2012/11/08/c13c1656-278a-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_bl
> og.html?tid=pm_local_pop


So Lanigan got the cash he wanted but he is still having fundraisers???

I know the guy was innocent but he brought at least half of his troubles on himself. I cant believe he still lives in the area. He should be thinking of his own kids first, he should move and change careers.

locker room talk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gordon Blvd Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > and the beat goes on............
> >
> >
> >
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-n
>
> >
> ova/post/sean-lanigan-the-rest-of-the-story-vol-3/
>
> >
> 2012/11/08/c13c1656-278a-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_bl
>
> > og.html?tid=pm_local_pop
>
>
> So Lanigan got the cash he wanted but he is still
> having fundraisers???
>
> I know the guy was innocent but he brought at
> least half of his troubles on himself. I cant
> believe he still lives in the area. He should be
> thinking of his own kids first, he should move and
> change careers.




Areyou kidding me ? Imagine if you got framed by an elementry school kid You would move your children and your spouse away from your famiy and support system . He did not bring these problems on him self what career should he do since you know everything and are perfect ?He is one of my sons teachers now and the high school he is at is lucky to have him.

He's a good guy who likes teaching. Admittedly, teaching gym isn't much work.

This shit with these fucking police, prosecutors, sheriff and mega pussy asshole deputies in fairfax county has got to stop.

I'm not even close to being over the execution of Dave Masters by fairfax county police officer David Ziants. Let alone the murder by hanging of Roy Buchanan in the ADC.

Best wishes to you Sean Lanigan.

sl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Areyou kidding me ? Imagine if you got framed by
> an elementry school kid You would move your
> children and your spouse away from your famiy and
> support system . He did not bring these problems
> on him self what career should he do since you
> know everything and are perfect ?He is one of my
> sons teachers now and the high school he is at is
> lucky to have him.


The poster that you are replying to probably thinks that Lanigan brought these problems on himself by always 'lifting' these kids up. I'm NOT suggesting that there was anything sexual going on there as the courts acquitted him and the accuser was found to be nothing more than a little brat who had a personal grudge against her teacher.

That said; do NOT pick up 10-13 year old students if you are a male teacher. Nothing good can come from that. Lanigan may have had his heart in the right place but, IMO, he was way deficient on common sense in at least one regard.

I have you now.

his at my high school now lol

HIS STILL A JERK

HIS STILL A JERK



I bet you hate your English teacher, too...

So some little spoiled brat 12 year old cunt can run her mouth, ruin a mans life and she just gets to continue posting on her Justin Bieber fan ficition sites. Those cock sucking parents of hers, and that entire FFX County police dept should be sued.

There is nothing more worthless then FFX County police officers either.

I hope this cunt is being passed around her high school like a joint. Fuck her and I hope her future kids are whores too.

I would sue the shit out of FCPS, the detective, and the girl's family.

The way that one woman cop tried to railroad Lanigan was particularly disgusting...threatening witnesses that challenged her wildly preconceived notion of events...she was never disciplined...

This whole nightmare was, and still is, a big joke to that little freak girl...just one big LOL

Wait.....Why isn't the cunt detective behind raked over the coals? And don't give me any "department won't let her speak" bullshit. She's a fucking cop, not a Navy SEAL with a clearance.

Wtf is going on in this country?

Read the article.... No one deserves to be falsely accused of anything however Mr. Lanigan put himself in a bad position habitually picking up kids and flipping and twirling them around. Then he couldn't recall if he had ever picked this kid up.... Anyone who has experience working with kids knows that this is a very practice.

Children learn from their parents.

Lanigan, who spent more than $100,000 on his defense

----------------------------------
across the country shithole county gov like loudoun and moreso fairfax have been doing massive theft and this is one way

a gov worker employee is accuse by other gov workers on a charge they know won't convict. they spend shitloads of time and resource and with a "lawyer friends" too

they then sue the county for "losses" (that the intentionally created)

i'll be after you crooks. fuck you.

across the country shithole county gov like loudoun and moreso fairfax have been doing massive theft and this is one way

a gov worker employee is accuse by other gov workers on a charge they know won't convict. they spend shitloads of time and resource and with a "lawyer friends" too

they then sue the county for "losses" (that the intentionally created)

i'll be after you crooks. fuck you.



I suggest putting another layer of tinfoil on your head...

nbc 4 is talking about him tonight

This thread is funny! Lanigan was a perv the WHOLE TIME and he played everyone including the jury!

https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Teacher-Acquitted-High-Profile-Student-Sex-Assault-Trial-2010-Surrenders-License-420647113.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_DCBrand

samm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This thread is funny! Lanigan was a perv the WHOLE
> TIME and he played everyone including the jury!
>
> https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Teach
> er-Acquitted-High-Profile-Student-Sex-Assault-Tria
> l-2010-Surrenders-License-420647113.html?_osource=
> SocialFlowFB_DCBrand


Funny.

FUCK HIM

HE SUCKS