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PRINCIPAL ACCUSED IN SEX CASE QUITS
Article ID: 9712020066
Published on December 2, 1997 - The Blade (Toledo, OH)
Jackman Road Elementary School principal Dean Redfield
resigned yesterday, nearly a year after he was suspended
because of allegations that he sexually touched four young
female students. The resignation of Mr. Redfield, who faces
criminal charges in Ohio and Michigan, is effective June
30, 1998, when his contract expires. He will remain suspended
and receive his $67,356 annual salary and benefits through
the end of the school year. The resignation is irrevocable,
even if he is acquitted of the criminal charges against
him. "I do maintain my innocence. I've done that since
the beginning," said the 50-year-old, former teacher
of the year. "I am resigning for the sake of the children.
It's evident that the school board does not intend to retain
me anyway." The legal expenses, the toll the case
has had on his family, and the personal stress he has endured
played a role in his decision, Mr. Redfield said.
The Bedford Public Schools board of education unanimously accepted the resignation
during a special meeting yesterday. If Mr. Redfield is convicted or enters
a plea in either the Michigan or Ohio cases prior to June 30, he will give
up his salary and benefits at that time, according to his agreement with
the school district.
Mr. Redfield agreed not to sue the district individually for matters relating
to his employment. He did, however, reserve the right to sue if he is acquitted,
and a lawsuit is initiated against him by a third party, which would include
the parents of the alleged victims.
Al Price, principal of Douglas Road Elementary School and president of the
district's administrators union, said Mr. Redfield's resignation sends a
sad message to the community. "It's a bad mark on education that accusations
can lead to this. I still maintain Mr. Redfield will be found innocent of
the charges," Mr. Price said. "It's the best that could be done,
and it's fair under the circumstances."
Bill Hall, school superintendent, said the board's effort to sever Mr. Redfield's
employment had little to do with the criminal case. Mr. Redfield was facing
discipline for insubordination for allegedly disobeying orders not to be
alone with female students, he noted. "The criminal charges are separate
and distinct," Dr. Hall said.
Mr. Redfield's resignation was approved just a few hours after he appeared
in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to face a charge of gross sexual imposition
in connection with the alleged touching of a 10-year-old student. The Ohio
trial was scheduled to begin yesterday, but it was continued until Jan. 5
after Lorin Zaner, one of Mr. Redfield's attorneys, filed a motion asking
the judge to allow evidence that the former principal passed a polygraph
exam given by an examiner he hired. In Ohio, polygraph exams are inadmissible
as evidence unless the defense and prosecution agree. A recent U.S. Supreme
Court decision revised standards for the admissibility of a polygraph and
may be applicable in this case," Mr. Zaner said. Mr. Zaner discounted
the report of a Michigan State Police polygraph examiner who said Mr. Redfield
- during a pre-polygraph interview last January - changed his story and admitted
touching at least one of the alleged victims in the case. "I have not
seen the exam, and we don't trust the Michigan State Police examiner," Mr.
Zaner said. "Our examiner has no hidden agenda."
Judge James Jensen is expected to rule on the motion about the polygraph
prior to next month's trial. In addition to the Ohio criminal case, Mr. Redfield
is charged in Monroe County with three counts of criminal sexual conduct
in connection with alleged sexual touching of three 6-year-old girls. The
Michigan case is scheduled for trial Feb. 17. Mr. Redfield's resignation
eliminated the need for a hearing before the Michigan Tenure Commission to
consider charges of insubordination and alleged sexual misconduct. The hearing
was scheduled to begin today.
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