School officials say they knew of teacher’s conviction

Friday, Aug. 6, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

Clark County School District officials said this morning they were aware that Kenneth Stacy -- a Chaparral High School teacher arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old student -- had been convicted of attempted grand larceny last fall.

Lina Gutierrez, executive director of licensed personnel for the district, declined to comment on the specifics of Stacy's case, citing employee confidentiality.

Gutierrez said the district was notified that Stacy had pleaded guilty to the theft charge -- a gross misdemeanor -- in November.

"When he (Stacy) was hired he was clean," Gutierrez said of Stacy, who has worked for the district since 2001. "If something comes up after they're hired we bring them in and discuss it case by case. But if it's something involving drugs or hurting someone or a child put at risk, forget it -- you're gone. There's no gray area with that."

Police arrested Stacy at Chaparral last week on the sexual misconduct charges. The alleged victim is a summer school student at the campus, police said. The two reportedly had sex at Stacy's home, police said. Stacy has been put on leave pending the outcome of the criminal charges, Gutierrez said.

Stacy, 28, is due back in court Wednesday when prosecutors are expected to ask District Judge Jennifer Togliatti to revoke his probation in the theft case.

Stacy was arrested after a sting operation caught him stealing cash from a guest cabana at the Hard Rock Hotel's pool, where he worked as a lifeguard last summer, said Las Vegas attorney Osvaldo Fumo, who represented Stacy in the theft case.

Prosecutors originally wanted to charge Stacy with a felony but the charges were reduced to a gross misdemeanor as part of the plea deal, Fumo said. Stacy was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and two years' probation, Fumo said.

Fumo said he will not be representing Stacy on the sex-related charges but planned to visit his client at the Clark County Detention Center this weekend to discuss Wednesday's hearing.