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Local charter teacher arrested

By JACKIE LEATHERMAN
Today's News-Herald
Published Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:06 AM MST

Lake Havasu City police arrested a local charter school teacher for alleged sexual conduct with one of his students, according to police.

Paul Hotaling, 35, faces two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor after Thursday’s arrest. The alleged victim is a 17-year-old female, according to police. Hotaling made his initial appearance in Lake Havasu Consolidated Court Friday and he is currently being held on a $50,000 bond, according to court officials. His preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Nov. 27.

Hotaling worked last year as a substitute teacher for Lake Havasu Charter School, at 1055 Empire Drive, and started this year as a part-time seventh- and eighth-grade health teacher, said Principal Patricia Hauchrog.

“Ideally we are here to protect the students,” Hauchrog said. “(We will be) up front and honest. Students have got to come first.”

Hauchrog said school staff decided to notify police of the allegations, but she declined to provide further information.

Hauchrog said the school conducted the state-mandated criminal background check and fingerprinting upon hiring Hotaling. She said she learned of the investigation Thursday and it came to her as a surprise. She said Hotaling has “been a good teacher (and) well-received by the majority of the students.”

School staff was expected to meet Friday afternoon and Hauchrog said the staff would be in communication with the students and parents regarding the investigation. She said Hotaling will be placed on paid administrative leave, but she wasn’t sure for how long.

“We are here for the students and let the investigation do what they need to do,” Hauchrog said. “That’s how the legal system works.”

Police state that the “investigation revealed the possibility of additional victims of a similar crime involving Hotaling,” according to a police press release.

After hearing that, Hauchrog said she is concerned that there could be other victims and “concern for what affects this is going to have on them.”

“This is a real ‘take the wind out of your sails’ kind of deal,” she said.

Repeated messages left with the Lake Havasu Police Department seeking more details on the case was not returned Friday.

Police ask anyone with information regarding additional victims to contact Detective Cindy Slack at 928-855-1171.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com

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Comments (28 comment(s))

realworldmom wrote on Nov 28, 2009 2:51 PM:

" As young boys, my two boys were sexually molested, not by a teacher, but a family member. This young man was the nicest guy, great job and the last person that would ever be expected of doing something like this.
During those years sexual conduct was not made so public as it is today and kids didn't tell. I did not know this happened to my boys for years, until my younger som finely told me one day, at the age of 21, what had happened to his brother and himself. At that time my younger son was having problems of his own with OCD and the over cleanliness that we were trying to deal with. My younger son committed suicide very shortly after that. (lots of detalis that I will not go into) I still deal with every day of my life that I did not keep my children safe.
We send our children off to STRANGERS every day to learn. Knowing that it can happen in ones own family, Everything must be done to see that our children are safe. I see no reason for any teacher to do any more than teach the subject at hand. If any child has other needs than the subject that is being taught, the student should be directed to the school councilor. that is their job. Also I think teachers have guidlines to follow to protect themselves in these matters.
There is so much of this out there these days. I feel that in all schools, there should be zero tolerance of any kind of perverted thinking in any of these STRANGERS that we are trusting our children with. I feel that not only teachers, but any person in our schools, should be held to a higher moral standard than the norm. We need to keep and know that our children are safe where ever they are. Believe me I learned this lesson in life the hard way. "

princess55 wrote on Nov 28, 2009 1:08 PM:

" its kind of the girls fault too because i have seen many girls with really short shorts or skirts!!! seriously parents they are going to school not a club!!!! "

Desertrat wrote on Nov 28, 2009 8:23 AM:

" I can't believe it - but I finally agree with triple J on something. He is right = are you people crazy? "

MN wrote on Nov 28, 2009 6:24 AM:

" I think it is funny, not haha funny, that some of you are telling others not to make a quick judgement, but you are doing the same thing! If both partys are of legal age, what they do is their business. There are 2 sides to every story..unfortunatly, now both sides are labled! "

tekkie wrote on Nov 27, 2009 1:07 PM:

" There are teens that get mad a a teacher and do this to get back and we know teens do not realize how what they do now affects others as well as themselves.

Dria: Any Arizona certified teacher may not have any sexual relationship with a public school student no matter what the age or if consent was given. The teaching certificate would still be taken away and I'm sure the job lost.

I think this story is mainly about the law and the relationship between school employees and students.

Is the 65 year old cougar teacher going after an 18 year old high school student? If not, it really doesn't matter except to those 2 consenting adults. "

loslagosresident wrote on Nov 27, 2009 11:37 AM:

" So,havasumother, what is your sexual crime that made you a sex offender? "

gatekeeper wrote on Nov 26, 2009 5:14 PM:

" The age of consent in many States is 16. This is not the case in CA and AZ. So if someone grows up in Alabama where a 30 year old can date a 16 year old, then relocates to AZ, hopefully they realize the difference. "

Triple J wrote on Nov 26, 2009 8:18 AM:

" Havasumother, where do you get your statistics from or are you just pulling numbers from the sky? Where you come from it's ok for a 16 year old CHILD to have sex with a 27 year old MAN??? I think that explains alot. Yes, urinating in public, "mooning" someone, flashing a crowd of people on the lake and a number of other actions can land you with a "sex offender" label, but we're not talking about that. We're talking about sexual contact by a SCHOOL TEACHER to a CHILD/STUDENT. I should not have to worry about my son/daughter being sexually involved with one of his/her teachers. A school setting should be a safe place for my children to learn. Also, if this story made it this far and police reports have been made and an arrest has been made, I'm pretty sure they have plenty of evidence to justify those actions. Poor, poor Paul, his career is over and he has to move, boo hoo hoo. Do you really want this guy living and teaching in our city after this anyways????? Are you people crazy???? "

havasumother wrote on Nov 25, 2009 2:28 PM:

" Wow!!! After reading so many post and we all have our own opinions. First anyone that is accused of sexual miscondut with minor is on the front page of the paper. If somebody is in jail, that person pays for there own jail time until convicted and sentenced to prison. Everyone talks about the age thing. Well when I was 16 my husband was 27 and where I come from it is just fine and is not a crime. At age 16 I was a mother and married and to this day am with the same man. It has been almost 20 years. Now I don't know what went on with this teacher and student, but he will no longer EVER have a career and will have to move out of town. He is Guilty til proven innocent and that is with every sex offender. The sad part is nobody knows what went on except for them two. And everyone is judging already. But did you know that most of the people reading these post and leaving a post are sex offenders, they just havent been caught yet. Just like the guys in prison that want to kill sex offenders. More than 75% of them are sex offenders, they just havent been caught. "

BrightOne wrote on Nov 25, 2009 1:29 PM:

" What if the student was 18 instead of 17? Does the difference in age matter, or does it matter that she was not a legal adult?
What do you feel of a 65 yr old cougar dating an 18 yr man, or vice versa? Popcorn, aka Dria, wanted me to ask these thngs, but was to shy to ask herself. BEERS! "

palkei89 wrote on Nov 24, 2009 6:12 PM:

" well im a 2009 graduate from Lake Havasu Charter School, I knew Mr. H I thought he was a great guy I never knew he would do a thing like that. Mrs. Hauchrog is a great principle when i went to school. I have alot of great memories from the school. alot of people might think its a bad school but I think its a good school. Ask the kids what they think of him they'll probably say he is a great teacher.
maybe the 17 year old is lookin for some attention, idk "

Ivehadit wrote on Nov 24, 2009 7:35 AM:

" Unfortunately, incidents regarding sexual activity remain in people's mind more so than any other activity. As such, publishing incidents as such are remembered far after it is found to be unfounded or punishment is dealt out. Our societal culture and value system hold incidents as such totally taboo and release of information too early has led to ruined lives and a community stigma for both involved parties. I'm in no way advocating tolerance for the acts but extending a caution to all those to quick (including media) for jumping on the band wagon of accusations and condemnations. Lawyers get rich often on libelous voices in our sue happy society. "

hava-NY-er wrote on Nov 24, 2009 6:50 AM:

" spoiled282 - Don't even go there with the "what if she was willing." That is not the issue. Again, this is if anything happened (my view something happened) there is NO excuse for a 35 yr old man (or woman) to act upon an urge with a teen. Big difference from "thinking" or "imagining" things to "acting" on them. Usually as a result of some serious mental issues. As with every story we all must wait until it works itself out before rushing to any judgement. "

surfinhavasu wrote on Nov 24, 2009 12:19 AM:

" you people are all crazy. even if the young lady was being forward that does not give the teacher the right to take advantage of the situation. for those of you trying the blame game on the girl i hope that you take a few minutes and think about what you are saying. You are doing the sme thing this story is doing making an assumption of guit. Why are young ladies nowadays so "forward" could it be because of the people they have to look up to? Let me tell you teachers need to be a safe person at all times. why was the teacher ever in a situation that he could be accused in the first place. that is why teachers should not be alone with stdents if at all possible. which i am sure is not easy. you want to stop the false accusations then put nanny cams in all classrooms. it will keep the students from doing such things. crushing on your teachers is very easy to do. teachers need to learn to take steps to keep from being in situations that they could be accused. if the young lady is guilty of crushing on her teacher and trying to take advantage of him, where are her friends? why did they not ever tell her "bad idea"? where are her role models? certainlly not you all making judgements on her. do you know that hollywood is one of the leading causes of teen pregnancy but no one will do anything to recall the problem. "

Sissy wrote on Nov 23, 2009 6:12 PM:

" I also have a tendancy to wonder about the other party. I recently heard (another town) where a 18 yr old homeless guy exposed himself to a 15 yr old girl, in an empty building. The guy said she went there willingly with him and initaited a kiss. You have to wonder what these girls are thinking..they used to be called "a teaser". I am not saying it was in this case. I am just saying girls should act responsably. "

curious wrote on Nov 23, 2009 6:01 PM:

" Since he has yet to be tried AND CONVICTED, why was he not afforded the same 'right to privacy' as the accuser? Even if he proves his case (17 year olds are hardly children)or the girl admits malice after consent, his career is already down the tube. "

havasuvian wrote on Nov 23, 2009 5:46 PM:

" What became of 'innocent until proven guilty'? First of all, public servants (teachers, medics, religious leaders, police and firemen---to name a few) are held to a higher standard and are always considered Guilty Until They Can Prove Themselves Innocent. Secondly, one has only to be accused and have the media involved to be 'proven' guilty. Innocence has nothing to do with it. The guy's life is over. Period. "

spoiled282 wrote on Nov 23, 2009 12:43 PM:

" I hate to sound like the bad apple here but, has anyone looked into the fact that maybe the girl was willing in the first place? I think they need to look closer at all parties involved. Now believe me a 35 year old man should not touch a 17 year old girl but if both parties are willing then where is the crime? I am a mother of 3 so in all aspects this is wrong but with the prison system so booked this guys is going to walk with a warning anyways. Taxpayers are paying for this man to sit in jail. "

cal/hav wrote on Nov 23, 2009 8:35 AM:

" Who remember the McMartin pre school trials of the late 80's. This ruined a family and a community for many years. All innocent at the end. Particularly read the initial accuser complaint.
law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/Ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartin.html "

bill516 wrote on Nov 23, 2009 7:34 AM:

" There needs to be legislation passed to protect peoples privacy in situations like this,the way it is any CRIME headlines have a monetary value.

Now we have cameras in the courtroom, nancy grace with cheerleaders and overcrowded prisons, people can't get enough! "

tekkie wrote on Nov 22, 2009 12:13 PM:

" paid leave since it is "alleged" - If it turns out it is true, throw the book at him. BUT why so much interest until something is proven? Stories like this ruin lives if it is found to be untrue... "

R2sweet99 wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:33 AM:

" These types of stories should be published IN FULL after all the findings, not as soon as an accusation is made...MY GOD! "

R2sweet99 wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:31 AM:

" 2 sides to every story.thank you 052760 my thoughts exactly! "

DUSAN wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:47 PM:

" kinda sounded like it wasent that big of deal "Hauchrog said school staff decided to notify police of the allegations, but she declined to provide further information."

MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL "

edukder wrote on Nov 21, 2009 5:28 PM:

" If this teacher is found to be not guilty of this horrible crime will that fact make the front page? I doubt it. Look for that on the back of page six-along with the Bingo scores. Not fair. "

052760 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 3:18 PM:

" I hope there is a serious investigation done in this matter. An upstanding teacher's future is on the line. How can you print this article without all the facts. This poor Man's reputation is all over this town for everyone to read because of a 17 year old girl's word. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. "

JM wrote on Nov 21, 2009 2:35 PM:

" Wow, and a PAID leave even.... "

triumph110 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 10:25 AM:

" This is happening all over the country. Go to schoolteachernews dot com and click on the Scandal page. This year they have documented over 400 of these types of incidents. In 2008 they found 478 of these kinds of cases. "

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