Oak Creek High School chemistry teacher James Buss screwed up his life when he took leave of his senses by leaving threatening comments referencing the Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold as heroes. Buss' game on Boots and Sabers resulted in his arrest.
It's hard to say if Buss will be charged for his online activities. It's even harder to predict if he'll be fired from his teaching job.
Now another high school chemistry teacher has been caught behaving badly.
Jeff Scheidemantel's problems dwarf those of Buss.
BAKERSFIELD -- A high school chemistry teacher has been arrested on charges that he made methamphetamine at a local high school.
Jeff Scheidemantel, 32, of Bakersfield was arrested Saturday, according to Bakersfield Police Department spokesman Sgt. Greg Terry.
Scheidemantel is a chemistry teacher at Shafter High School. He was arrested after a joint methamphetamine task force learned he had used the Internet to order red phosphorus from an overseas source, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
"Red phosphorus is a necessary, critical element essential to the manufacture of methamphetamine," according to a BPD statement.
"Officers executed a search warrant at Scheidemantel's residence and high school chemistry lab," the statement said.
"Several recipes describing different ways to manufacture methamphetamine, computer equipment storing the same or similar information, and several firearms were seized from his residence," the statement says.
The county's emergency meth lab team "was sent to Shafter High School and they located a cache of precursor chemicals necessary for manufacturing methamphetamine," the statement said.
"A quantity of chemicals was located in Scheidemantel's classroom, indicating he had engaged in a manufacturing effort at the school," it said.
...A district spokesman said Scheidemantel is on paid administrative leave, and said he started teaching with the Kern High School District in 2003, worked the school year, and then left for two years.
He began teaching for the district again at Shafter High School in 2006.
Scheidemantel allegedly was making meth in his classroom and he's on PAID leave.
That's a sweet deal, a union deal no doubt.
Why hasn't he been fired yet?
Will he continue to be paid until a jury finds him guilty?
You'd think that he would be canned rather than still getting checks, courtesy of taxpayers.
As with Buss' case, Scheidemantel's online activities provide some damning evidence.
"He was arrested after a joint methamphetamine task force learned he had used the Internet to order red phosphorus from an overseas source."
Do you want to bet that Scheidemantel thought he was ordering the red phosphorus with some degree of anonymity?
This is another instance of someone thinking that what happens on the Internet stays on the Internet.
IT DOESN'T.
Other evidence against Scheidemantel includes "[s]everal recipes describing different ways to manufacture methamphetamine" and "computer equipment storing the same or similar information."
Those darn computers again!
Scheidemantel does not belong in a classroom teaching kids.
How could he be so stupid to think that he could get away with what he was doing?
Scheidemantel will no doubt be charged; and unlike Buss, he'll be charged with far worse than disorderly conduct.
Bottom line: Chemistry teacher Buss' online behavior could be career ending.
Scheidemantel's alleged "fun with chemistry" should, without question, be the end of his teaching career.
_________________
UPDATE:
High school chem teacher convicted
Former Shafter teacher sentenced to 9 months for making meth
11 comments:
I am a student at Shafter High and I did have Mr. Scheidemantel as my Chemistry teacher last year and gfound him to be one of the best I have had. He was always a respectable and kind man, and was a great educator. And to the task force finding products to make meth, I guaruntee that every class has chemicals to use to make meth. Obviously the big thing he did was order red phosphurous but only he knows what his intentions were. I personally am sad to see a lot of negative and untrue facts being said. I believe he is a great man and I would change my opinion ever.
Ouch with the extra penalties for school zones out here. My HS chem lab was broken into a few times for drug reasons and being a top private college prep school it is a well stocked lab.
anonymous,
I don't think it was just the well-stocked lab that led to Scheidemantel's arrest.
In addition to his red phosphorus order, there was all of this:
"Several recipes describing different ways to manufacture methamphetamine, computer equipment storing the same or similar information, and several firearms were seized from his residence."
It's really a shame if Scheidemantel was as great a teacher as you say.
Many other students could have benefited from being in his Chem class.
Extra penalties? "Ouch" is right.
Goat, when your HS lab was broken into, was it by students?
If so, I'd think the talented kids at your school would have know better than to put their futures in jeopardy.
Investigation, indicted, arrested, paid administrated leave DOES NOT equal guilt. IF he is convicted or WHEN the district feels that legally it is appropriate, then they will fire Mr. Scheidemantel. Even his termination does not infer that he is guilty. That is what our jury system is for. We do no, nor will we be given all of the evidence in this case. It would be nice if the American people would remember that people are innocent until proven guilty to a jury. Not to the general public who do not have all of the facts. I am certain that if any one of us were charged or even being investigated for a crime, we would want the same. No one thinks it could happen to them but it can...and it does.
A jury has not given its verdict on Scheidemantel. He will have his day in court. That's obvious.
I'm commenting on what has been reported in the media.
That's my right.
How do you know that all the evidence will not be given in this case?
Scheidemantel's lawyers must not be very competent if they allow that to happen.
Why don't you share the evidence that media are failing to report?
Just for the record: all charges were dropped against Jeff Scheidemantel...although the system ran it's course this poor man's reputation is tarnished forever thanks to people jumping to conclusions without all of the facts. I am personally proud to call Jeff one of my friends and I hope that he will be able to continue working as a teacher.
Just for the record, provide a link please.
I haven't been able to find any information on charges being dropped in the Scheidemantel meth case.
Hello Mary,
I am a close friend of Jeff's. If these statements were true I would understand your frustration. The fact of the matter is, Red Phosphorous is also an ingredient in matches, which was a lab experiment he was creating for his students. The reason meth recipes were found on his computers was actually used to create the extraction needed in the process for the match creation.
That is the problem with media and today’s society. They immediately jump to conclusions and assume everyone is guilty of making or doing drugs before they learn all the facts.
John, I haven't been able to find any information on charges being dropped in the Scheidemantel meth case.
I'd like to verify that.
Charges were NOT dropped in the Jeff Scheidemantel meth case.
From BakersfieldNow.com:
A former Shafter High School chemistry teacher who was convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine was sentenced Thursday to nine months in jail, three years probation and given $2,000 in fines.
Jeff Scheidemantel was found guilty Aug. 19 of one felony count of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. He's free on bail pending an appeal from his attorney.
Scheidemantel was arrested last December after he allegedly tried to purchase red phosphorus - a material used in making meth - off the Internet. Detectives said they discovered Scheidemantel's meth recipes and incriminating Internet searches.
Scheidemantel faced a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
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