May 29, 2004
Second conviction means possible life prison term
By J. Harry Jones
Thad Jesperson listened in court yesterday as the
verdicts in his molestation trial were read. Seated with him were attorneys
Robert Boyce and Laura Schaefer.
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A former Clairemont elementary school teacher is facing a possible life prison
term after a jury found him guilty yesterday of molesting one of his
second-grade students.
This was the second trial for Thad Jesperson, who was initially charged with
molesting eight girls in his Toler Elementary School classes. The first jury
convicted him of molesting one of the girls and deadlocked on the rest of the
accusations.
Prosecutors then dismissed charges involving one student, but retried him
this month on allegations that he molested the six other girls during either the
2001-'02 or 2002-'03 school years.
Yesterday, he was found guilty of molesting one other girl and acquitted of
charges involving three other girls. Jurors deadlocked on the remaining charges.
The convictions mean Jesperson, 40, faces an automatic 15-years-to-life
prison term, authorities said. Had he been acquitted of all charges yesterday,
the most time he could have been facing for the first conviction was eight years
in prison, and he would likely have received much less.
"My husband is innocent and this is wrong," said Sydney Jesperson,
the defendant's wife of 17 years. She was joined by dozens of supporters in the
courthouse hallway after the verdicts were announced.
"My kids are the ones who are suffering from this. Nobody else,"
she said. Jesperson, his wife and four children live in Murrieta in Riverside
County. He commuted daily to his job in Clairemont.
Eric Jesperson, the defendant's brother, hugged Thad
Jesperson's wife, Sydney, outside the courtroom yesterday after the guilty
verdict was read.
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Jesperson testified during the trial, saying he never touched any child
inappropriately. He wept on the stand as he described what the charges have done
to his family.
Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior said justice was served by yesterday's
verdict.
"This is a teacher in our community who abused a position of
trust," she said. "These kinds of molesters are the most dangerous
because the victim pool is endless. Hopefully, today we stopped a very, very
serious and dangerous problem."
Jesperson was fired after the allegations were made early last year.
Many of the girls testified they were touched or rubbed on the buttocks or
thighs by Jesperson during one-on-one reading lessons in the back of the
classroom.
Testimony by the girl who the second jury found had been molested was more
detailed.
"He would lift up my dress and push down my underwear and touch
me," the girl, who is now 9 years old, testified at one of the three court
hearings she has attended in the past year.
"I thought Mr. J was a good teacher, but then when he started touching
me I was scared."
The girl's parents declined comment after the verdict was announced. A
lawsuit they filed against Jesperson and the San Diego Unified School District
is pending.
Prior told the jury that none of the girls had a reason to lie.
Defense attorney Robert Boyce questioned the girls' testimony. He said the
girls' stories changed over time. He played videotapes showing that, at first,
many of the girls told investigators nothing wrong had occurred.
Prior said yesterday the initial denials were normal in child molestation
cases. "Most molestations never get reported," she said. "The
victims are too scared."
Nearly two dozen character witnesses testified on behalf of Jesperson,
including a judge and many who know him and his family through the Mormon
church.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 29 before San Diego Superior
Court Judge David Danielsen.
The defendant's brother, Eric Jesperson, said letters of support for
Jesperson and letters he has written while in jail have been posted on the Web
at: www.families4mrj.com
