UPDATE: Found Guilty
Westminster, Colorado - Jeremy Dennis was sentenced to 6 years Community Corrections for 2 counts each of felony Negligent Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and 4 years for 1 count of felony Attempted Sexual Assault on a Child after entering a guilty plea in a plea bargain arrangement. All sentences are to run concurrently.
Sentencing took place on April 9th, 2009.
Westminster, Colo. (The Weekly Vice) -- Jeremy Dennis, a 25 year old drama teacher at Mountain Range High School in Westminster, Colorado has been arrested on allegations that he sexually assaulted a student.
According to police, Dennis allegedly assaulted a student three days prior to his arrest.
Dennis was arrested on May 23rd and charged with two counts of felony sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. He has also been charged with sex assault in a pattern of abuse.
Police have released few details about the age or sex of the victim and details about the allegations have not yet been released by police.
The photo above is not a mug shot. This photo was obtained from Dennis' own website.
Dennis has been released on a $20,000 bond and is expected to return to court on June 9th.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com
Posts
61 comments:
Hello,My name is Vince I attend Mountain Range High School, I was a student of Mr. Dennis, and im here to say that Mr. Dennis never showed any signs or hints of being a pedaphiliac. He never made lude comments or made any sexual hints to anything, I believe strongly that my great drama teaher, is a good man and has been falsely accused of this crime. All he has ever did at our school was devote his time and energy into his passion for theatre, no news or reportings are ever going to tell you that he put in so many hours for drama, plays and musicals, and he never turned any body away or put any body down. I just hope he is found innocent and eveybody gets the real truth. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Vincent
Your link to his website actually is pointing back at yours.
Thankyou vincent - We also believe that this man is innocent - he was arrested without a shred of evidence because the DA would rather arrest and apologize later than let the public think that they are doing nothing while they investigate
His website is http://jeremydennis.net however he's stripped it down to exclude much of the previous commentary.
The comments above sound a little too canned to be believed.
"All he ever did at our school was devote his time and energy into his passion for theater"???
Sounds too much like a PR campaign to me. It's not believable.
If the victim successfully identified intimate characteristics, markings, a bedroom layout or other identifying characteristics, it will strongly suggest Dennis put his passion into something else besides just drama.
And to the other poster, most alleged perps are typically arrested and then released on bond.
There's nothing new here
The one thing everyone always says when a teacher, team parent or someone else who "devotes" their life to childern is accoused of molestation is "they didn't do it because back when I knew them they were cool." A fellow teammate of mine in high school (who lives 9 houses away from mine) was left alone with her father and little brother whiler her mom went to Florida (it's a 4 hour drive just to the state border). Her dad was always the cool dad who brought us coffee and doughnuts on our overnight competitions (we slept in classrooms at the school we were competing in. Sometimes he'd be in the room before any of us woke up and we'd wake to him watchin us. We all called him dad.). When her sister got married and was pregnant she started having flashbacks of being molested by her dad. The family said she made it up beacsue she was a poroblem child who ran away at 16. ANYWAY, when the mom went on vacation, my friend's dad (remember he was the cool dad) let her and her 12 year old brother get drunk. She woke up several hours later hurting in her nether regions and naked on the floor and she called her mom to say "I think daddy raped me" her mom said "Are you sure it was him? If you're lying to get me to come home it won't work" THIS IS THE PRICE THAT MY FRIEND HAD TO PLAY BECAUSE HER AND HER SISTER'S WORDS WERE NOT TAKEN TO HEART. I'm slad they arrested him. If he's innocent, a jury has the JOB to say it NOT SOMEONE LIKE VINCENT AND "ANONYMOUS" Oh and by the way, when he told the sex registry that he was living 2 towns away when he actually moved in across the street from his family in our neighborhood when my friend still lived at home. Now she's away at college, he lives back in his house with his wife and son.
summer - your longwinded and 3rd person account about your friends flasbacks does not make Mr. Dennis guilty-
Blather
First, one person calls himself Vince and the anonymous post calls him Vincent. It sounds like they know each other a little TOO well if you ask me.
Secondly, Vince/Vincent, how would you know whether a person 'Never' did one thing or another? Did you follow him around like a puppy dog every day of his life?
Also, there are many child molesters who do things for a living. Do you think they all sit around doing nothing all day? If he was in fact a nice guy, that doesn't mean he didn't have urges.
In fact, it might suggest he spent a little TOO much time around kids instead of going out and having a healthy social life with people his own age.
I suppose we'll know soon enough
My "longwinded and 3rd person account about your friends flasbacks" weren't an account of the flash backs. Obviously you can read, so why didn't you see that it was her sister who had the flashbacks, not me. This is what happened to a girl that I lived down the street from. I did not write it to make you believe he was guilty, just to remind you that people who seem perfectly normal can still be child molester. I saw this man every day of my life from the time I was 11 till I was 18 and he was arrested. he always hosted the neighborhood block party. Just don't be so quick to defend someone you only know publicly. Don't attack me because you don't know that CHILDREN (no matter the age) should be taken seriously unless you can prove without a shadow of a doubt that the kid is lying. And I can make my post as long winded as I want. Countless men and women died so I can have the right to type or say as much as I want about anything. If you don't like it then don't read it.
Every once in a while I tap into these insipid websites just to sample the depth of ignorance within the American public. I am rarely disappointed. Obviously you are all experts in psychosis
( that is why you have apparently devoted your lives to postings)and you have never heard of an incidence where someone has been accused of something they didn't do ( our entire justice system is based in the prevention of that very situation) so I will leave you vultures to what you do best - picking others apart to take your mind off your pathetic little lives
Oh Amber, do you tivo Law & Order?
Dear "Blather",
check out Vince's signature.
not the brilliant detective you thought you were now are you.
Summer-
I'm assuming you were a child once, so you would know just as well as everyone else that children lie. So unless you can prove without a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty, keep your long winded 3rd person stories that may or may not be true, to yourself.
P.S- I don't think "Blogger" was what the revolutionaries had in mind.
Yes, anyone can lie, which is precisely why detectives don't rely on the victim's statement alone.
A good description of Dennis' shriveled manhood would suffice, although the strip search probably excited him.
If he (or in my opinion YOU) are found guilty, I won't be shedding any tears.
Who's being found guilty?
I daresay Anonymous, that made no sense
Damn, you have a hard time reading. I said CLEARLY that IF he's found guilty, I wont be shedding any tears.
Why must everyone here say the same thing twice until it sinks into that noggin of yours?
Good call Amber, the bullshit on this post is getting deep. I've read enough of the statements that teenagers usually make on sites like this about their teachers and they don't use words like (insipid, daresay and vultures)
They sound a lot more like the words of a gay drama teacher who ooops, just happens to be the subject of the article. Imagine that!
Pleanty of children get molested my repeat molesters because no one believes the first child. THe adult should be arrested and if he's innocent he will be proven innocent. If he's guilty thne thank God someone believed this child. And "Anonymous" when we live in China I'll stop posting "long winded posts." DO you know what gives me the write to say what I want? THE FIRST AMENDMENT!!! The internet is for the free exchange of ideas. they put my name at the top of the post so if you have such a problem with what I'm writing then don't read it. What's dummer: reading something from something you don't agree with or feeling so high and mighty you have to attack that said person's right to free speach?
Or perhaps the highschool students know you think so little of them and use those words anyway to throw you a curve?
oh summer you make it too easy.
dummer is not a word.
Or maybe I'm a twenty-three year old who just cruises the net when her child is asleep and doesn't care if dummer isn't a word. "Gonna" isn't a word either but I still use it. Once again my right to do that is in the First Amendment. Thank God we live in America and a woman can actually have an opinion!!!
I've done my time in school. If you want you can go to an English class and share your bashing of me. This isn't an AP English class, moron, it's a web site that people can share their views as they want. I bet with all your "fancy lernin" you've never used slang right?
You guys are way to high strung. I thought the reason for this blog was to share our opinions... not to tell someone their opinion is wrong. Opinions are like assholes... everyone has one and they all stink. How about you guys remember why Danny started this site...
And I for one am glad you do Summer.
It always amazes me how some people blast others for posting comments, and then return to post and post and post again themselves.
Eh Peter?
But to be fair, approximately 8% of our stories end up being tossed out before a trial ever ensues.
Sometimes the investigators stretch the truth a bit under pressure to make the case stick. We were advised of an instance like this about two weeks ago.
A teacher was accused of giving alcohol to a minor.
Later, it turned out that the teen had only joked about partying with the teacher - and when another teacher overheard him, a case was launched.
Did the teen just recant his statement? No.
The teacher's only saving grace was a handful of receipts she received because she had been shopping the entire day. She in fact was paying for items at the very time she was accused of drinking with the student.
In cases like this, you just absolutely HAVE to give the defendant his/her chance to tell their side of the story, because their entire life and livelihood is riding on it.
If this turns out to be the case with Dennis, we certainly will use the post ranking in Google to declare Dennis' innocence.
But if he's found guilty, we'll soon know that too.
In the meanwhile, everyone is encouraged to share their view about the case - as indictments, mug shots and arrest affidavits are public record.
And Summer..... aren't they just adorable when they sleep? =)
Oh and before someone attacks me again I know it should be "too high strung" it's just a typo so don't get your panties in a wad...
(oops I posted that last one before I saw what Danny wrote)
They are adorable (I can see his little curly head from my seat at my computer). I really think it's funny when people freak out on someone just because their views are different. I love by me just sharing my ideas gets someone so freaked out they just can't overlook what has my name on it.
Summer, most of these posts are from the same person simply making up various screen names to make it look like lots of different people.
Dennis is a quack who is out on bail spending his time attacking others instead of worrying about his own case. The more he babbles, the more evident it becomes that it's him.
I seriously doubt droves of people would be spending their entire weekend running a PR campaign for this loser. Also, his case is two weeks old. Why would a dozen posts just pop up out of no where from all these different people? Because it's him and/or whoever he's pals with. I'm calling bullshit on Dennis and his little minions.
Your day is coming Jeremy. Why don't you worry about THAT for a change instead of what a respectable mother at home with her children is doing? Perhaps that's the whole problem with you.
It's no wonder he's a drama teacher. Drama seems to follow him wherever he goes
lol yea I figured it was him or he had some buddies up to it. The reason why he's attacking me is because I'm a person who thinks child abuse is wrong... oh wow like I'm the only one. Once I saw someone was posting back to me it just got funnier and funnier. Besides the reason he sexually assaulted a student is because he's a discusting human being who obviously has more issues than a whole team of doctors can help him with.
is it just me or does he look drunk off his ass? By the way, this isn't an English class and we aren't your students dork.
okay we give- we are his loyal former students just passing the time mucking around in the cesspool of the internet - giant waste of time? absolutely! But its summer and we haven't any childrent to ignore for days at a time - in any case we will not be back you folks get a bit vicious when we point out the fallacy of frying a guy on your website even though you admit there have been cases where the guy is innocent-
okay yeah we did get caught up in this game but its over you won B'Bye
Little note on karma Danny Boy- If Mr. Dennis is innocent- I am praying for a little comeuppance
( oops not a word- ha doesn't matter)
OK now that was hilarious. They call us stupid but obviously they can't read. My son is * months old. He's been asleep since 7. I am not neglecting him by me spending my free time while he's asleep on the internet. A couple of posts over seperal hours of him being sleep isn't neglect. And they hate this site but they are going to devote several hours to it. Isn't it just easier to ignore it? And how are we getting vicious by just saying what we want? And Danny never fired this guy. He provided the story for the internet community to share its diverse beliefs on the story. By praying you obviously believe in God... where in the Bible does it say He strikes down people for using the free will He gave them? My grandpa is a preacher... maybe I should ask him...
If Dennis is innocent, I'll certainly update the case. I know kids can sometimes overreact. If you read my earlier post, I promised this, as it's a policy of the site.
Very few news resources update their old articles when a case is overturned or dismissed. I on the other hand do.
If I don't catch it myself, email me and I'll update it within 24 hours.
I don't take kindly to rogue prosecutors who bring cases that aren't substantiated.
Leaving so soon? That's too bad.
You leave for just a minute to go get popcorn and the damn play is over? I was rather looking forward to the show. Great cast of characters. Suspense. Drama.
Well damn. I want my money back.
FOR NARNIA!
It's all Summer's fault. She's just a big meanie.
I would like to say that the fact that the issue came up at all is a clue that the student(s) involved wanted justice. I believe he is guilty, and I am sorry if you disagree. I just wanted to say my opinion.
lol i love that i can leave for 2 days and bitches still talk about me! damn i'm good! mommy must have been looking over their shoulder if all they could call me was a "meanie"... i think that's the nicest insult i've ever had!
Is that a challenge?
Summer must have gotten herself a new push up bra or something - now she's crackin a whip like she owns the joint. I see how she is.
Matt, you're such a goof. We don't need to need any wonder bras to take charge of the situation
Well,if it turns out that Jeremy Dennis is Jeremy The Menace,I don't think he'll fare very well behind bars.
wow people are dumb
okay Matt, don't be all quiet now. How are you anyway? Are you still traveling?
I know that this is a little late but some of these posts were getting a little out of hand. My name is Matthew Wells. This is the first blog I've made about this situation and I feel like I have to say something. I don't think that people should be saying anything about this if they have no personal connection because they don't know who's feeling they're going to hurt. So all of you dumbass's that posted before should think before you say anything about something you don't know about. Anyway, I was a student of Mr. D. I don't regret ever being in his class. I feel I learned so many things that I will be able to use in my future which will bring me closer to my goals. And I had some fun along the way. I don't know if he's gulty or not, but I do know that he was one of the coolest teachers I've ever had.
Thank you Summer for your comments.
Well Matthew I am a student who knows Jeremy and I know how he acts towards girls. You know him as another male, so you were never the subject of lewd comments and you never saw him look you up and down like some girls have.
You likely never had him pester you and never had to order him to get away from you, after he kept pressing with his comments.
I have talked to many people about this and believe me, this is not a surprise to us. He acts in many ways like he's our age instead of the adult example other teachers do.
Also, this is not the first time allegations have been made against Jeremy.
Yes, some students like Jeremy because he doesn't act like an authority figure. He's not above cutting up or telling another student what he thinks of a particular girl. Guys probably view that quite differently than a female who's the subject of his attention.
He devoted a lot of time to the department, because those were his buddies, not because he worked tirelessly to enrich students lives.
I'm not saying he is a bad person. I just think he forgot that there's a line between adults and students that should never be crossed.
Perhaps if you were on the receiving end of some of his behavior, you'd understand.
I know believe what the girls have said because what they say matches up with what I've experienced. Yes, this is not just one person making a claim, there are several girls who have come forward to share their experience with him.
I suppose you're going to call them all liars in order to defend your friend - that's your right. But it doesn't change what has gone on over a very long period of time.
anonymous is not truly a student - just a loser who likes to pose
-pathetic
ok, let me just say one thing. those of you who are using this site to have a personal conversation with another buddy is most certainly not acceptable. This is a site for people to talk about Mr. Dennis, not to discuss your personal lives. I'm sorry if that is offensive, but some of you are treating it that way. I was a friend of Mr. Dennis' who was infact a female. I had him as a teacher at Mountain Range and I was involved in all the productions that were put on there. He never made any sort of move on me, and i did spend alot of time with him. Alot. I enjoyed being around him, and even though he did cross the line that should never be crossed, he is someone i will always consider a friend and someone i really care about. Me saying this is not an attempt to make him innocent. I know that he did something and trust me, he will pay if there is anything of substance. So next time you come on this site, maybe try talking about the subject, and not about your personal lives that frankly, we, who do worry about Mr. Dennis, don't care about.
I don't thinik this case will be updated on the news sites. Well actually, for the sake of the victims, I hope it doesn't. If the names of those involved were released, how could those girls ever want to walk through the halls of their school without feeling like a sign is hanging above their head, flashing brighter than a Christmas tree?
Does anyone know how we find out the updates on this case? The records should be open now, since it's been 30 days from his arrest.
It will certainly be updated, however there hasn't been an update to report that I'm aware of.
Cases like these can be over in a few months (if suspect pleads guilt and wants to get it over with)....
Or they can drag on for a year or more if the suspect fights it.
If Dennis is not agreeing to a plea arrangement, then you have to sit tight for awhile, because it will be a long, drawn out process.
IF someone has an update that they find before I do, please either post it or email me and I'll verify and post
Anonymous 2:08, I have a comment for you as well. Who the hell cares if he made a move on you or not? Just because Jeremy didn't make a move on YOU doesn't mean he didn't sexually assault someone. You could be ugly and therefor repulsive to even a child molester - did you consider that?Secondly, I just love how you admit he crossed the line, but then say how you love to be around him. Obviously you are pretty loose in the goose, if you love to be around adults who keep "crossing the lines" and engage in sex with underaged minors. Obviously the bar of what's acceptable to you isn't set very high. Finally, this is NOT Dennis' website. If people who visit this site often want to talk to each other, it's their right. Freedom of speach doesn't apply only when your pedo-luvin' ass thinks it should. In your world, pedophiles are okay, but people having minor conversations are unacceptable? Give me a break. Build your own Dennis website if you want to enshrine this sick bastard.
Dennis was my teacher this year at Mountain Range. I found this really hard to believe at first because Dennis is an amazing teacher and director. But after talking to the police it all made complete sense as to what exactly happened. Dennis has taught me so much and i can't go back on that. He's never going to ba able to teach again because of these mistakes. I can not understand half of you who didn't really know Dennis the way we do. Plus if things were happening before you should have reported them. That is your fault. By the way "blather" i know vince and what he thinks is his opinion.
Brutus. I am responding to your comment made about my comment earlier. i think this is the only comment you made, so i'm going to assume you know who i am. first of all, you mentioned practically that i was a fool to mention that mr. dennis crossed the line. Why would i come on to a site and say he didn't do something. mr. dennis' situation wouldn't be blown up as much as it did if the PD didn't find anything. so why would i come on here and say that he was innocent. that would be idiotic, and i'd look like a fool. secondly, i am a very mature person, and i have very high standards. bottom line, he didn't do anything to me, and i have no reason to hate him, or think of him in a negative way except for the fact that he ruined some peoples lives. your sister can be a murderer, but you can still care about them. i know that Jeremy Dennis isn't even related to me, but i can still care about him. Right?? He was my teacher, and i didn't expect anything like this to happen, so i don't know how to handle it. i'm sorry if anything i said was offensive, as i stated in my previous comment. i also think that Jeremy should be locked away if he has committed a crime. i never said he shouldn't pay. HE SHOULD. The way you handled yourself in your comment was immature. All i was doing was stating that i knew the guy, and i care about him. the comment I made about people using this site as a conversation line, i didn't mean for it to offend anyone. i realize i shouldn't have said that, and i apologize. But just so you know. i'm not ugly, i think pedophiles should be locked up, especially if they're in a position of trust, and i do care about Jeremy Dennis, no matter what you say or don't say. Obviously he has a problem, and that better be fixed because he'll have a hard life ahead of him. i hope that clears things up for you.
Anon July 29 - Don't apologize. You completely explained yourself well enough by admitting that you aren't sure how to handle it exactly. That's completely understandable and it takes a mature person to admit when you don't know exactly what to think. You have a right to be torn. Contrasting who you thought you knew against their actions. This is why things like this ARE so bad. It not only hurts the victim, but it hurts everyone else around the situation too - who struggle to make sense of it.
There's nothing wrong with caring for people, even the worst among us. But as you get older, you'll see this happen over and over. People acting in private completely different than the way they do in public. You just have to really be careful with who you put your trust in, in this world - and use the highest integrity as your guide instead of what they might do that seems cool at the time. Sorry to be so hard on you. You're alright in my book and likely a person I wouldn't mind knowing in the real world - for your fairness and understanding. =)
I like the last two posts very much. Probably the most honest, reasonable and level headed two posts that I've read to date. Thank you. =)
Hi my name is Clemente and I too was a student of Mr.Dennis i have just heard of this news and i am sickened. Whoever would say this about Mr.Dennis is crzy in my opinion.I truley hope that he is found innocent of the falsley accused crime setup for some attention and it had no evidence to back it up.As well as i knew Dennis he was a teacher devoted to his work and just an all around good guy.
My name is none of your business, and I was also a student of Mr. Dennis. He was a creep. I never realized that the things he would say were actually very disgusting. I am glad this happened, I would just like to know more about what happened
Woah. I read the Weekly Vice a lot and this is the first time I've seen this post.
I have a few comments.
First, to those who say people shouldn't go online and offer opinions of guilt before the case is decided in court--aren't you on here insisting innocence before the trial? Just because you disagree with someone's post or opinions does not make them stupid. You are on here posting too, so if you label someone as a loser for coming to this site you are calling yourself out.
Second,and I know this is going to earn some harsh opinions towards myself and my intellect but...
-Summer, being molested/raped by your dad or another family member is a way different case from a teenager having sexual contact with another older man. I was abused by my dad when I was a child and when I was a teenager I still got crushes (like all teens do) on older men. It is normal for teens to become infatuated with adults. It is up to the adult to draw the line. But-an adult having an affair with a teenager who is physically full grown is NOT pedophilia. I say this as someone who was the victim of an actual pedophile and as the mother of two daughters. It is wrong and stupid but NOT the same thing as an adult being attracted to or violating a purely innocent and physically undeveloped child. Especially if it was an older teenager who flirted like an adult. I am not saying it is not wrong, but I AM saying that it is less wrong and much different. I know I am not the only adult who sees teenagers flirting with grown men and exposing as much of their bodies as their parents will let them get away with. What about the teens who post skanky pictures of themselves online? Yeah. BIG difference.
And my final thought is that this reminds me of the movie Pretty Persuasion. I have no idea of this guy's guilt or innocence...yes kids should be believed but teenagers are notoriously manipulative. Girls are quite spiteful and vindictive when spurned, so who knows. Maybe this guy took advantage of his position and abused her; maybe it was mutual; or maybe a schoolgirl had a crush and got rejected or didn't get the part in the play she wanted. I am not in a position to gather the facts so I will wait for the jury to decide.
My comments are meant to be general towards cases like this.
To Amd Army Wife:
Your post is insightful and intelligent. And it's nice to see someone with a level head and common sense join a serious conversation where others were simply being very opinionated.
Mr. Vice,
Might I ask where you obtained the infrormation about his sentencing? Was there a link?
Anon, news outlets rarely follow up on cases like this - especially this long after the charges are filed. I am not aware of any links.
This information comes directly from records at the Seventeenth Judicial District Court. Please get in contact with the court clerk's office if you wish to verify the status of the case.
Convictions and sentencing is public information - but names and details of the case are rarely provided and won't be discussed here.
Thanks for sharing this article. This man seems innocent.
Regards,
http://www.academicsltd.co.uk
Post a Comment
****Please Read Before Posting****
The fastest way to post is to type your comment, click "NAME", enter any screen name you wish, and then click "PUBLISH".
Anonymous posts are discouraged, because it makes a conversation difficult to follow. No one can tell who's talking to who. Be somebody. Pick a name - any name. This way your fellow bloggers know who you are when you return to comment again. Thank you!