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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Ex-Freedom High School administrator has charge expunged in 2009 case
Posted by:
Concerned Citizen
()
Date: May 12, 2011 06:54AM
Ex-Freedom administrator has charge expunged in 2009 case
Wednesday, May. 11 by Andrew Sharbel
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/ex-freedom_administrator_has_charge_expunged_in_2009_case898/
In August 2008, Freedom High School’s Assistant Principal Ting-Yi Oei was indicted on a felony possession of child pornography charge and, although the case was dismissed in April 2009, the perception and record of the case was still there.
Despite the dismissal, Oei had been haunted by the case as he sought part-time work in his retirement and the thought to get the bogus charge expunged had crossed his mind.
On Friday, those problems were officially put to rest when a judge ruled to expunge the case from his record.
“My first reaction was I was elated and very pleased that the court ruled immediately and quickly based on the history of the case and the support documents that I had,” Oei said.
“Two letters I had from members of the Loudoun County School Board and one from a current employer about issues that they faced when conducting a criminal background check sent up a red flag.
“So to have all that put behind me, as the Commonwealth Attorney said himself that I would need to show that it was a manifest injustice to have that on my record,” Oei said.
“I think to have something like that is horrible and it is good that it is expunged and no longer a part of my record.”
Beginning in early 2008, reports from the student body at Freedom High School mentioned that some students were circulating nude photos using cellular phones.
Working with the school’s principal, Christine Forester, Oei obtained a copy of a non-nude photograph of an unidentified student.
Oei was then charged with a misdemeanor for not reporting the incident to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
On May 30, 2008, the defense and prosecution came to an agreement to drop the charges with a nolle prosse motion. However, Commonwealth’s Attorney James Plowman was not aware of the motion and told the assistant district attorney handling the case, Nicole Wittman, to withdraw it.
On Aug. 20, Oei was arrested for possession of child pornography on the Freedom High School campus.
After months of trials and personal anguish, the case was dismissed in April 2009 and Oei was permitted to return to Freedom High School.
“I had wanted to wait for a while before asking for an expunging of the record,” Oei said. “It is important for me to get this accomplished because I would still like to work and just about all places now-a-days require a criminal background check.
“I am serving as a lifeguard part-time, both at Lifetime Fitness and at Reston Community Center, and when I applied, the case sent up red flags in their HR departments,” Oei said.
“I was forced to meet with the supervisor at both places and explain the situation because, when that red flag goes up, it doesn’t explain the case, it just notifies them of the issue.”
Oei noted that he now has the option to return to working in schools if he so chooses.
Currently, Oei is a part-time curriculum consultant and social sciences fair coordinator with Loudoun County Public Schools.
Wednesday, May. 11 by Andrew Sharbel
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/ex-freedom_administrator_has_charge_expunged_in_2009_case898/
In August 2008, Freedom High School’s Assistant Principal Ting-Yi Oei was indicted on a felony possession of child pornography charge and, although the case was dismissed in April 2009, the perception and record of the case was still there.
Despite the dismissal, Oei had been haunted by the case as he sought part-time work in his retirement and the thought to get the bogus charge expunged had crossed his mind.
On Friday, those problems were officially put to rest when a judge ruled to expunge the case from his record.
“My first reaction was I was elated and very pleased that the court ruled immediately and quickly based on the history of the case and the support documents that I had,” Oei said.
“Two letters I had from members of the Loudoun County School Board and one from a current employer about issues that they faced when conducting a criminal background check sent up a red flag.
“So to have all that put behind me, as the Commonwealth Attorney said himself that I would need to show that it was a manifest injustice to have that on my record,” Oei said.
“I think to have something like that is horrible and it is good that it is expunged and no longer a part of my record.”
Beginning in early 2008, reports from the student body at Freedom High School mentioned that some students were circulating nude photos using cellular phones.
Working with the school’s principal, Christine Forester, Oei obtained a copy of a non-nude photograph of an unidentified student.
Oei was then charged with a misdemeanor for not reporting the incident to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
On May 30, 2008, the defense and prosecution came to an agreement to drop the charges with a nolle prosse motion. However, Commonwealth’s Attorney James Plowman was not aware of the motion and told the assistant district attorney handling the case, Nicole Wittman, to withdraw it.
On Aug. 20, Oei was arrested for possession of child pornography on the Freedom High School campus.
After months of trials and personal anguish, the case was dismissed in April 2009 and Oei was permitted to return to Freedom High School.
“I had wanted to wait for a while before asking for an expunging of the record,” Oei said. “It is important for me to get this accomplished because I would still like to work and just about all places now-a-days require a criminal background check.
“I am serving as a lifeguard part-time, both at Lifetime Fitness and at Reston Community Center, and when I applied, the case sent up red flags in their HR departments,” Oei said.
“I was forced to meet with the supervisor at both places and explain the situation because, when that red flag goes up, it doesn’t explain the case, it just notifies them of the issue.”
Oei noted that he now has the option to return to working in schools if he so chooses.
Currently, Oei is a part-time curriculum consultant and social sciences fair coordinator with Loudoun County Public Schools.
Re: Ex-Freedom High School administrator has charge expunged in 2009 case
Posted by:
trogdor!
()
Date: May 12, 2011 10:18PM
Sounds like a bit of an over reaction by the prosecutor, who then realized they would look stupid if it went to trial. Not sure why it still went to trial and was dismissed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/2011 10:18PM by trogdor!.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/2011 10:18PM by trogdor!.
Re: Ex-Freedom High School administrator has charge expunged in 2009 case
Posted by:
Concerned Citizens of Loudoun
()
Date: May 13, 2011 06:09AM
trogdor! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like a bit of an over reaction by the
> prosecutor, who then realized they would look
> stupid if it went to trial. Not sure why it still
> went to trial and was dismissed.
Typical politics meets justice system!
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like a bit of an over reaction by the
> prosecutor, who then realized they would look
> stupid if it went to trial. Not sure why it still
> went to trial and was dismissed.
Typical politics meets justice system!