Even Well-Respected Teachers Can Have a Dark Side

Over and over again I have heard the same thing; "You wouldn't see so many people coming out to support a real child molester."  Robert Adams CAN'T be a child molester because look at the "educational model" his school is.  Well folks, sadly it does happen, even with self-confessed abusers. 

Dennis Michael McKeown was well-respected in El Cajon, CA and lauded for his work in starting a charter school.  He was principal and CEO. His supporters raved about his good work with children.  I forgot to mention that he was also a popular minister of a church.  However, it seems that Mr. McKeown had a nasty secret.  When he was "depressed" and dealing with the break-up of a marriage, he sexually assaulted a little boy.  Not once, but over and over--from the time the boy was 6-9 years old.  Oh, he denied all charges and his supporters loudly stood behind him, proclaiming his innocence.  He was taken into custody when the child reported the incidents to his mother in July 2005. Mr. McKeown pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Fast forward a few months - to October 2005.  It seems that Mr. McKeown decided to come clean.  It seems that it was the fault of the vodka as he doesn't have a "kid thing". He pleaded guilty to all charges.  Only problem was that he remembered three times and the little boy remembered "at least 10".  Hmmmm.  Must have been that vodka and depression.  It is a good thing the majority of people can drink vodka, even "straight out of the freezer" without sexually assaulting young children in our care.

Twenty-seven supporters of Mr. KcKeown's, his former wife, and the man who took over his position at his charter school came out to support the man at his sentencing hearing.  I wonder what they thought when the judge admonished Mr. McKeown for turning the little boy into his "personal sex toy"?  This man admitted his crimes and STILL had 27 people turn up in support of him.  His defense attorney begged for leniency, given the "good deeds McKeown did in developing the charter school...under his leadership, the charter school excelled beyond everyone's imagination." 

Mr. McKeown is now serving 10 years in a CA state prison.

Bad Teacher #1, Rob Mocarsky
Bad Teacher #2, Henry Nguyen