Hot Teach Fave Hit with More Sex Charges; Posed Nude, the Whole Works

Leesville, La. - Further allegations of abuse have resulted in the re-arrest of Kendra Hoffpauir, a para-professional at Vernon Middle School.

Hoffpauir, 24, of Leesville was first arrested Friday, Jan. 19 and charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The alleged victim is 15 years old.

An investigation of Hoffpauir was initiated when parents of a 15-year-old student of the Vernon Parish School District reported to the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office that Hoffpauir had engaged in sexual activity with their son.

Since then, at least three more students have come forward with similar allegations against Hoffpauir.

Hoffpauir was subsequently arrested and charged with four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, three counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of oral sexual battery. A bond of $45,000 was set, and she was released after posting bond.

The second arrest involves two victims, ages 14 and 15.

According to reports at the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office, at least two of the three victims knew Hoffpauir from Leesville Junior High School where she was a para-professional until early this school year, when she was transferred to Vernon Middle School.

The parents of two of Hoffpauir’s alleged victims have spoken out against how the Vernon Parish School Board has handled the situation.

One mother alleges that her 17-year-old told her about his sexual involvement with Hoffpauir. After she learned that Hoffpauir is 24 years old, the mother went to the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Leesville Police Department (LPD).

“Even though I know that technically my son is of age, I thought that they should know that a para-professional is having sex with students,” said the parent, who wishes to remain anonymous.

She said that the LPD advised her to report the information to school officials, which she did, speaking to Roger Rolon, principal of Leesville Junior High.

“When I went to see Mr. Rolon, I had my son’s phone," she said. "It had nude pictures of Hoffpauir on it. Rolon refused to look at the nude pictures but did identify her in another photo where she was not nude but partially dressed.

“He told me then that he would investigate the incident and arranged for a meeting between Rolon; Jackie Self, Vernon Parish Superintendent; Tommy Nubert, Child Welfare and Attendance and myself.”

At the time, however, Dr. Cindy Gillespie was the superintendent of schools, not Self. Gillespie told the Leesville Daily Leader that she had no knowledge of the incident.

When the mother went to the meeting at the Vernon Parish School Board the pictures of Hoffpauir had been erased from the phone by her son, the parent said, but Rolon confirmed to Self and Neubert that he had seen one photo on the phone and it was Hoffpauir.

Rolon declined to confirm or deny to the Leader the meeting regarding Hoffpauir and also declined to make a statement regarding the investigation. Self has also refused to answer any questions or comment about the investigation into Hoffpauir.

“They (Self, Neubert and Rolon) told me that the photos were irrelevant, because they had been bluetoothed and I couldn’t tell where the photos originated from," said the parent.

According to the parent, her phone plan keeps records of images that are text messaged or e-mailed to another phone unless they are bluetoothed.

"They (Self, Neubert and Rolon) also told me that they had questioned Hoffpauir and that she denied having sex with my son, but admitted to talking to him on the phone," the mother said. "They also told me that they told her not to contact my son again, which I had already done, and I had also told her not to speak with any of my children.

“Since my son is of age, they said they couldn’t do anything, but Neubert told me to turn in my phone bill to Rolon when it came out,” said the parent.

When the parent returned to LJHS to provide Rolon with a copy of the bill, Rolon allegedly asked her if her son was still getting any calls from Hoffpauir.

“The phone calls had stopped, so Rolon said he didn’t need the bill anymore,” said the parent.

At the time of the alleged relationship between Hoffpauir and the 17-year-old, the student’s father was overseas. When he arrived home, he went to the VPSB to follow up and was told by Neubert that since the mother hadn’t turned in the bill the board had “dropped it,” according to the parent.

She also said that she has tried multiple times to contact Neubert but has never received any phone calls back.

One of her main concerns was that her younger son would be attending junior high, and she feared that Hoffpauir would seek him out. Those fears came true, she said.

"My younger son came home from school and told me that Hoffpauir had spoken to him in the hallway," she said. "I lost it. I went back to the school board office and threw a fit."

She said she wasn't sure why, but within a short amount of time Hoffpauir had been transferred to Vernon Middle School.

Hoffpauir was transferred to VMS in September.

"I was relieved when I drove by the school and didn't see her car. I was constantly worried and would stop by almost every day just to check on my son," said the parent.

She said that after her son was no longer around Hoffpauir, she believed everything to be over.

"When I heard about this other child, I realized that it was happening again, but with younger students," said the parent.

Now, both she and the parents of the first recorded victim have hired an attorney and are pursuing a civil case against the school board.

“The school is supposed to protect our kids. Why aren’t they?” asked both parents.

The parents of the 15-year-old victim have removed their son from the Vernon Parish School system and are now home-schooling him.

"I have lost all faith in the Vernon Parish School system," said the 15-year-old's mother. "I can't trust them with my son."

Both parents have praised the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office, especially the detectives investigating the accusations of abuse.

"They have been absolutely wonderful and supportive throughout all of this," said the parent of the 15-year old.

They have taken the accusations seriously and are making sure our children are safe, continued one of the parents.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.