The Sun Sunnyvale's Newspaper Judge's words ring true By Maggie Benson When Judge LaDoris Cordell took former Homestead High School teacher Jeff Lamson to task for molesting a 14-year-old student, she didn't just berate Lamson. She also made a statement about a community that has continued to support him despite the crimes that he committed. In her closing statements at the Jan. 27 proceeding, before she sentenced Lamson to three years, four months in state prison, she said, "I don't think that you get it, Mr. Lamson." Moments later, she took aim at the students who threatened Jane Doe No. 2 and those who continued to support Lamson: "Sadly, it is those students and their supporters that just don't get it either." Jeff Lamson is a lawbreaker who abused a position of trust. In October, he admitted to molesting a 14-year-old student in 1997 and to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in 1991. He must register as a sex offender. In the psychological evaluation requested by the defense, Dr. James R. Missett said there was a possibility that Lamson would offend again and advised that he "refrain from visiting any school playgrounds, school yards, swimming pools or other areas where children or youngsters commonly congregate." And yet many people in the community--even several people on the staff at Homestead, where Lamson's second victim still attends school--continue to rally behind him. The judge received more than 100 letters on behalf of Lamson after he confessed to the crimes. Fewer than 20 letters were written in support of the Jane Does, and one parent circulated a petition in favor of a harsh sentence, which carried approximately 200 signatures. In a letter to the judge dated Nov. 1, 1998--after Lamson pleaded guilty to the sex offenses--Liz Williams, a fellow Homestead teacher, Girl Scout leader and former Homestead PTA president, wrote that Lamson "never compromised the good of the student." She further described Lamson as "magic, charismatic, unique, wonderful, fun and a kid magnet. ... And, though life goes on for all of us at Homestead, the thrill of catching a glimpse of magic each day is no longer there." As Williams lamented the fact that Lamson could no longer ignite his "magic" at Homestead, on the very same campus Jane Doe No. 2 lost her friends, suffered threats from fellow students and stared in the faces of teachers who told her, through their lack of support, that the actions of her molester weren't all that bad. In this society, we urge victims of sex crimes to report the offense. When they do, we must stand behind them. In abandoning the two Jane Does, Lamson's supporters sent a message to other young victims that it is better to keep their mouths shut. Luckily, Judge Cordell disagreed. [ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 3, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.