Guidance Counselor/Statutory Rapist
Diane West, 52, was a Bayonne special ed teacher and guidance counselor whose affinity for young teenage boys went on almost entirely unchecked and unremarked upon for over 20 years at Bayonne High. She was accused of statutory rape in 2001, left her job, and finally pleaded guilty to sexual assault in 2005, but got off with just probation after her ex-colleagues and friends helped convince a judge of her good character.
The Times has a good piece on West's career as a teacher and counselor, and on her extra-curricular activities, which include groping a 13 year-old at a school dance in 1980, marrying a suicidal recent Bayonne High graduate in 1985 (when she was 31) who got her pregnant when he was in 11th grade, divorcing him in 1996, and then in 2001 taking up with one of her own son's friends, a 15 year-old whose parents for some reason allowed to move into her house.
What is this lady's problem? Well, for one thing, she says that she had an abusive boyfriend when she was 14, and that she got pregnant and gave her baby up for adoption. I think it's pretty obvious that this early relationship was the start of her fixation on young teenage boys, and it came up in the court's psychological evaluation of her.
And she also uses her difficult teenage experiences as an explanation for her adult behavior. According to the Times, "In talking about the relationships with a court-appointed psychiatrist last year, Ms. West said that when she took up with Steve and Chris, she thought it was acceptable because she had had a child at 14. Later, she said, she realized teenage boys can suffer emotional damage if they become sexually involved with an adult, especially an authority figure like a teacher."
No shit, Sherlock! But apparently her own boss saw her criminal sexual involvement with boys as just a foible, a part of West's personality, and not a dangerous and harmful act. “Diane has a thing for young boys,” said her former principal Daniel Doyle in a court statement.
West herself refused to be interviewed for the article.
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I was a colleague of Ms. West, and notwithstanding given the fact that she is/was a pedophile, many of us, her co - workers, were not aware of her deviancy. Diane is probably the sweetest most wonderful person an individual could work with in a very stressful profession. She was always full of good cheer and positive input in every aspect of her demeanor. When a colleague or student confronted difficult times, Diane would be the first person to help. Unfortunately, all the good that she has done for the community will be overshadowed by the sordid details of her affairs. The only thing that I can say in her defense is that the student that brought charges against her was neither an angel or alter boy. He may have been chronologically a teenager but in terms of his maturity, he was an adult. Furthermore, it was rumored that the student and his father were complicite in luring Ms.West into this illicit relationship given her penchant for teenage boys.
gary | Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:54:30 EST
Gary I can completely understand your viewpoint on this individual. Yet I cannot sympathize with her at all on any level. The reasons for this if for my extensive research and understanding of what a child predator is. I simply do not agree with her claims. I will not eat up this blog space here for if you really wish to know my reasons why I believe this follow the link at the end of this post. You will find at the bottom of the page a section called “Myth or Fact?” . Here I have given a quick overview on people such as Diane. I personally believe that this reasoning Diane gives for her crime only takes away from the pain, suffering and trauma that these boys faced. I am sorry but I cannot sympathize. http://www.childpredatorbook.com/research/definition.html
Jeff Wise | Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:42:46 EST
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