School Volunteer Convicted of Child Abuse
Penny West served as a volunteer every day at an elementary school in Tucson, Arizona, despite being found guilty of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death in early August
Tucson Unified School District volunteers are not subjected to fingerprinting or background checks. Rather, they must disclose their criminal histories, and then the decision whether or not to allow a person with a criminal history to volunteer is left up to the principal of the school.
West and her husband, Randall West, will be sentenced on September 22nd. Both face prison time. The jury found that West acted with criminal negligence when she did not seek medical attention for the 16-month old foster child in her care. Pathologists determined that the little girl, Emily, died of blunt-force trauma to her head. West claims that Emily fell backward and hit her head, which the defense doctors said was plausible. The state's doctors contended the injury was a result of being severely shaken or that Emily was struck with something in the head.
The principal of the school where West volunteered, Chad Knippen, agreed to be a character witness on behalf of Penny West, but was never actually called to do so at the trial. He explained that West has been helping the school for years with filing, copying and putting bulletin boards together. She did not work directly with the students.
Tight budgets are a large reason why schools utilize volunteers to assist them with many tasks. However, if schools become more reliant on volunteers, they also need to rely on background checks to protect children.
Labels: school volunteers, volunteer background checks, volunteer screening, volunteers
posted by JenWiehl @ 10:50 AM
17 Comments
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17 Comments:
Now a days schools and states should start budgeting for the security of the children. They should budget for backbround checks on volunteers or anyone working with the children.
They knew she was convicted, but didn't relieve her? Isn't that just asking for a PR nightmare?
Yeah, I say include the background check in the school's budget. It's a must in today's world.
Wow this is scary and sad!
The principal can decide to let this slide? The same principal who's being entrusted to teach and nurture these children? He can do that? Seriously?
Usually people get burnt once and then learn their lesson. But some people don't make a change until it's too late.
Funny how everyone is so quick to judge based on what is incorrectly reported on the news & in the press, but not so much as a word about the fact that Penny & Randy were acquitted on all charges because they are completely INNOCENT.
Think before you rush to judgment - what happened to Randy & Penny could easily happen to anyone (and any one of you). They were WRONGLY accused and tried for a crime they didn't commit. . .thank GOD the conviction was overturned. The only thing the Wests' are guilty of is opening up their hearts and home to those less fortunate and look what happened to them - they have been living a nightmare for the past 3 years. They loved Emily, and all of the children they fostered, as one of their own. It's sad that today's society hears that someone has been ACCUSED of something and automatically assumes that if they've been accused, they must be guilty. Shame on you.
God bless you Randy & Penny.
Rest in peace, Sweet Emily.
So sad...
I wept when I read this. No joke, no exaggeration.
Yeah, I can't imagine that anyone who willingly takes in a foster child would be the type to abuse them, but maybe that's naive.
Jen Wiehl -
Maybe you should consider doing an updated blog on the West story now.
Over the past 3 years the Wests' lives have been turned upside down by being incorrectly accused, indicted, tried and convicted and now the ruling has been overturned.
Or is the fact that they're NOT guilty not nearly as interesting as your original blog??
VOLUNTEER CONVICTED OF CHILD ABUSE - Gilbert AZ What if they are sociopaths like my OLD friend who is volunteering at my children’s elementary school, who "helped" me by fostering my kids. During this time she was manipulating them and her step-daughter, and planning on victimizing me and sure has. She had since gone on to be a licensed foster mom and family, due to the control "high" she got from my already victimized kids. (Easy targets) She got two little sweet boys (traumatized)who had a sister and brother slit up two and went to another foster family who she became "friends" with, so the kids could see each other. Idea was from the other foster family. Unfortunately, she could not stop the control game she had going on! She bought an Escalade, and bought them good will clothes. Lives in a 1.3 mill home. She would punish the older son constantly. He would be in his room (and it was painted PINK) ALL the time. He was NEVER allowed to say he did well in class, so that he would not “hurt” her real daughter’s feelings, so she said…he was just not allowed to talk. He could NEVER talk to company because he was sooo bad. (yea right). Before it got to this I could see she did not get along with this boy, I suggested she call and have him go to another family. Finally the hatred towards the older boy got sooo bad she MADE him, as punishment stand on the pavers outside in like 115 degree weather until his skin on the bottom of his feet burnt off! I guess she had tried to hide it for a few days...(I had only heard her side of the story - it was all him) I work full time was not always around, but sure remember her talking over and over about how the boy was lying and being manipulated by that step daughter. People started coming over. Her step-daughter, who she treated like crap, reported this evil woman! CPS took the kids right away! Well what sucks is her and I have "known" (so I thought) each other since 1989 - She took care of MY girls (foster care) by her self and her husband!! She denied the burn charges and said they were all liars. She LIED AND LIED to CPS, but got CHILD ABUSE CHARGES! I found out for sure on FRIDAY October 3rd, 2008 she really DID get child abuse charges and I had better keep her from those girls all of a sudden from one of her other friends I know t that has cut ties 3 month ago with her! This CPS burn case has been a year ago! I had cut ties with her due to her trying to keep me at her house after work and wouldn’t so she got all weird and started telling me I am really screwed now because she quit watching me kids, and me a single mom had MANDATORY over time the next day. I pretty much started to “see” behavior I did not like, degrading, threatening, controlling, and angry. I saw her at the school a month ago and the kids had not seen her or months, so they were running to her kids and the tables where she was so I sat down. She acted like nothing had ever happened between us. I moved across town to be by her, thinking she was a friend and see she is a freak. I just found out that she does in fact have abuse charges, on record and is volunteering in my daughter’s school! I just found out and confirmed she had LIED to me! I didn’t even ask. She had me convinced she did nothing and I BELIEVED her she is a sociopath! She has been trying to control, get me in major debt, make fun, judge, talk bad about me to others in the school, let them know my past and make up lies, and NOW, she is telling MY little girls (my daughter just told me) that mommy is going away for 12 months and you are coming with me! This is happening at the school! The teachers THINK we are sisters! She is lying to them about that, this is how she is getting to them. My daughter’s teacher left me a message on Friday that my daughter was UNDER her desk crying and hiding and would not come out. This woman has already made her way into this school this year, made fake friends with teachers (normal) only to get to those girls! I just so happen to contact a mutual friend a few days BEFORE this phone call and pretty much was told to STEAR CLEAR of her she has a SICK evil "get her" thought process toward me and my daughters. Her daughters go to this school I guess due to the fact that the last grade school - same district pretty much knows she has child abuse charges and knows the foster boys were taken away. My daughter’s teacher had called concerned and asking about what is going on at home on Friday. She has been manipulating the teachers saying she is my sister while busy telling "stories" about my past, and will turn around and pull my kids aside to remind them that mommy is leaving for 12mos so you will stay with me again wit a mean look my daughter can re-make. My daughter is FREAKING out! She is 7! IT’S AT THE SCHOOL - ITS HER THE VOLUNTEER - who tells all of the staff we ARE SISTERS! We are not! I think God intervened this weekend, because there are 2 people that know for sure she is an evil sociopath trying to "get" me, for some reason and to mess with my children and to make money and watch us all be devastated if any untrue allegations get brought up on me for something. I was told to steer clear from her. But I LOVE that school! I will NEVER EVER be her friend EVER! I cannot believe that school doesn’t check backgrounds! No background check??!! They are such a GREAT school, but I know she has snowed them over, she is good. I wish I had direction on where I need to start with the two teachers, one I have emailed already due to being informed of what the teacher and my old friend were saying about me and my past. I know the teacher does not realize what she really is about, she is good. After all she got me for 18 YEARS! I thought I knew her! I am kind of dumb founded. The teachers and principal need to know. Where do I start since she has been elaborating on my past to defecate my character for at least the past few weeks or so? My checking account is negative over $700, my utility bill that was going to her house was shut off the other day, it was not due yet, had to pay more money I did not have. My SRP balances keep on changing... I am a single mom, she is a victimizer and is targeting me...I FINALLY realized after being told by a Foster parent and 2 other people who with in less than a year ago have cut ties, with her due to her hateful conversations about what she is going to do to me next. How can I explain this in simple words to the school tomorrow? It’s going to be hard for me to say it as I cannot accept this behavior as normal. Please any suggestions, my daughter cannot and WILL not go another day of the threat and intimidation. I am so upset and I get overly wordy and may not even be able to stop from breaking down.
Thank you.
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These pedophiles continue to offend and offend again. Castration is the only answer. Look at the link below and you will see what happened in Liberal, Kansas
http://schoolvolunteerbackgroundcheck.blogspot.com/
Just click on the link and read the news stories. Background checks are a good thing.
Penny and Randy Are guilty and will pay for what they did to emily one day! My family will have its day in court...or there knee will bend before god
and penny worked in that school the whole 3 years that she was accused of killing emily
sick and sad
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