education:

Board revokes teaching license after unlawful contact conviction

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 | 1:47 p.m.

A former Boulder City middle school teacher had his license revoked today by the State Board of Education following his conviction for unlawful contact with a child, a gross misdemeanor.

Brett Storsved, 40, opted to fight publicly for his teaching license, appearing at this morning’s hearing with his wife and several supporters who spoke on his behalf.

Storsved had faced eight felony charges of lewdness, stemming from allegations made by seven female students, ages 11 to 13. The incidents took place during the 2006-07 academic year at Garrett Middle School, where Storsved was teaching science and broadcast journalism.

The students told authorities that Storsved had touched them inappropriately, describing pats on their backsides and pokes to their stomachs, groins and sides.

Storsved entered an Alford plea on the gross misdemeanor and the more serious charges were dropped. He was sentenced to a year’s probation and ordered to have no contact with children under age 16.

An Alford plea is a plea in which a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes there is likely enough evidence to support a conviction.

Storsved told the board members he had agreed to the plea deal only because he was facing life in prison if convicted of even just one of the felony charges. The risk was too great, Storsved said.

He also disputed the charges made against him, saying he had never touched a child with sexual intent. Storsved also mentioned that at his sentencing hearing, none of the students or their families showed up, which to him suggested they had misgivings.

“Are you saying these children lied?” asked State Board member Christopher Wallace.

Storsved said he wasn’t calling the students liars, but pointed to their relatively young ages and said “what they say can be distorted.”

Cliff Ferry, the board’s vice president, said the hearing wasn’t the place for Storsved to try and refute the allegations made against him.

“We have to go by what has been done by the court already and the standards for revocation,” Ferry said.

As a matter of law, “the licensee is guilty of what he pled guilty to,” said Ed Irvin, the deputy attorney general assigned to advise the Nevada Education Department, which oversees teacher licensing.

If the comments Storsved made today had been presented during his sentencing hearing, “it would have been very problematic,” Irvin said. “The court might not have accepted his plea.”

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By DTJ

10/9/09 at 2:41 p.m.

Suggest removal

The "pats on the backsides" bothers me too. But the "pokes to their stomachs, groins and sides" is far less offensive. If true that "he was facing life in prison if convicted of even just one of the felony charges," then this is out of whack. You don't lock up a man for the rest of his living days for pervy pats on the butt. I think this worked out just about right -he's on probation (so he's being monitored) and he can't come into contact with kids under 16. I'd rather err on the side of safety regarding the kids. But don't take a free man's life away from him. Cold blooded gang-banging murderers get turned back onto the streets after only a few years of glory "time."

There's a lot that's still not clear about this case. None of the families making accusations showed up at his hearing? I know I would have, if I MY daughter had been molested. This is a head scratcher...
By KITW

10/9/09 at 4:46 p.m.

Suggest removal

Brett Storsved is a wonderful man and was an incredible teacher. Several people in the town of Boulder City state it is a shame that their children cannot be exposed to his excellence and commitment to teaching students. If more people took the opportunity to know this man and work with him, they too would see a personality that emulates enthusiasm along with compassion and empathy for others. It is unfortunate the Sun article did not post the overwhelming number of statements made by community members, parents and students on his behalf at this educational hearing. Nor did the media mention the fact that when the motion to revoke the license was made, the room was dead silent. After what seemed like several minutes, one of the board members hesitantly slid forth in his chair. Another NDOE board member stated that he wanted to believe all that was stated by the supporters as well as Mr. Storsved and that the board was in an incredibly difficult position. Until you have been part of a media escapade, please do not judge the character of another through an article and/or public forum. Someday the entire stream of facts will come to fruition and the Storsved's will be able to move on completely with their lives without the burden of judgment by those that don't even know them.
By cpo

10/9/09 at 6:50 p.m.

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My daughter went to school with the accusers. She didn't care for Brett Storsved, because he was a tough teacher and didn't play favorites. I heard her complain about him, so I know its true (long before this came out). She flat told me the kids were lying and totally exaggerating. The reason they didn't show up is they were stunned at the how hard the Boulder City police came down on Storsved. What a shame !
By cpo

10/9/09 at 6:52 p.m.

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Its been several years since this happened. I would like to see some of these children who are now young ladies, come foreword and set the record straight, one way or the other, Its the right thing to do.
By Harley

10/9/09 at 9:21 p.m.

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I got a little change in my pocket going jingle lingle ling
want to call you on the telephone baby I give you a ring
but each time we talk I get the same old thing
always no huggin no kissin until I get a wedding ring
my honey my baby don't put my love upon no shelf
she said don't give no lines and KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF

Cruel baby baby baby why you want to treat me this way
you know I'm still your lover boy I still feel the same way
that's when she told me a story 'bout free milk and a cow
and she said no huggin no kissin until I get a wedding vow
my honey my baby don't put my love upon no shelf
she said don't hand me no lines and KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF

you see I wanted her real bad and I was about to give in
that's when she started talkin' true love started talkin' about sin
I said honey I'll live with you for the rest of my life
she said no huggin no kissin until you make me your wife
my honey my baby don't put my love on no shelf
she don't hand me no lines and KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF

: )
By DTJ

10/9/09 at 10:57 p.m.

Suggest removal

Harley,
You point is taken, and it's a valid point. But your post was tedious and not clever.

This is how you SHOULD HAVE succinctly handled it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjNuXuW3...
By simplyhadenough

10/12/09 at 8:37 a.m.

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With personal knowledge of both Storsved's, his wife has done more than most to stand with her husband, no matter what imageof him the community placed on her husband, and to stick with their marriage when it would have been so easy to kick his butt to the curb. As far as what he is accused of doing, since I was not there, I cannot pass judgement, but I sure hope for his sake they were not true. And I hope he knows how lucky he is to have the spouse that he does. If his conduct was true, he deserves much, much less...