Herald
Englewood 4/11/13
Englewood
April 12, 2013
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourenglewoodnews.com
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 93, Issue 8
Former teacher pleads guilty Alexandra McLean gets probation for relationship with boy By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com The legal process has ended for a former Englewood High School teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a male student.
Alexandra Elizabeth McLean, 28, received no jail time as she pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges stemming from her relationship with a 17-yearold male student in 2011. She appeared before 18th Judicial District Judge McLean Marilyn Antrim to enter the guilty pleas on March 29. According to information from the judicial district, the fact McLean had been extremely truthful and remorseful about what
happened and the fact that it is unusual for a psychosexual evaluation not to recommend treatment were among the reasons she was allowed to plead to the lesser charges. When she appeared in court, McLean entered the guilty plea to the misdemeanor sexual assault charge and specifically to a subsection of the statute where the victim was younger than 17 and the defendant was more than 10 years older than the victim — even though the victim was two months from his 18th birthday. The judge sentenced McLean to two
years’ deferred judgment on that count. Successful completion of the deferred judgment will result in the misdemeanor sexual assault count being dismissed. However, she also entered a guilty plea without deferred judgment to misdemeanor second-degree official misconduct. The record can’t be sealed, she can never teach again and the charge will not be dismissed when she completes probation. She was sentenced to supervised probation for two years; she is not permitted to McLean continues on Page 9
DeGette meets with officials Focus of discussion was on national issues impacting Englewood By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
The normal sounds of athletic competition in Englewood Recreation Center’s gymnasium were replaced April 5 by music and sounds of people having fun at the Daddy and Daughter Dance. “We decided to try it and we didn’t know what response we would have,” said Dave Parks, recreation program director for the dance, in the leadup to the event. “We thought we were going to cancel the event last week because of a lack of participation when we only had five dads signed up. Then the floodgates opened and we have about 65 dads registered for tonight’s dance.” Englewood Youth Council helped decorate the gym for the dance. There were tables wrapped in colorful material, matched with chairs set along both edges of the gym. A table of refreshments was set up just inside the door, and balloons were scattered around the floor. As dads checked in, they were given corsages for their daughters, who ranged in age from toddlers to several young ladies who were in their teens or almost in their teens. Scott Keslow attached the corsage to his 7-year-old daughter Elizabeth’s wrist and, while dad sat at the table, Elizabeth went out to kick balloons around the floor.
Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette joined Englewood city officials and council members April 3 to talk about how national issues like the 2013 sequester and proposed stricter wastewater treatment regulations will impact the city and its residents. DeGette, who represents Englewood as part of Colorado’s 1st District, said there was originally a time conflict because she was to attend the ceremonies surrounding President Obama’s visit to Denver. However, she said the meeting with Englewood was important, so arrangements were made to meet earlier so she could be at both events. The city prepared a list of issues for discussion, and City Manager Gary DeGette Sears said the top priority was to talk about the 2013 sequester and its impact on Englewood. The sequester is the first of automatic spending cuts required under the Budget Control Act, signed in August 2011 and designed to reduce federal spending by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. The sequester for fiscal year 2013 mandates across-the-board budget cuts of $85.4 billion, but some areas like Medicare and veterans’ benefits are exempted. “I think just about everyone agrees sequester is a horrible policy that cuts programs we all care about,” DeGette said. “The idea was to get the parties to work together to develop a balanced budget, but that still hasn’t happened.” She said she is already hearing about the impact of sequester on local community agencies. She asked that city officials forward information about the impact the spending cuts have on agencies and residents. Mayor Randy Penn said Meals on Wheels officials told him they expect program funding to be reduced because of sequester. “The Meals on Wheels people said they will be able to continue to provide for the current list of clients,” he said. “However, the funding reductions mean they can’t accept any new clients.” The congresswoman suggested city officials urge residents to contact members of Congress and urge them to take action to end the sequester. DeGette was asked about possible federal reaction to Amendment 64 legalizing recreational marijuana. “We have asked and not received any guidance from the Department of Justice on this issue,” she said. “I did introduce a bill that legalization of recreational mari-
Dance continues on Page 9
DeGette continues on Page 9
Todd Fahnestock guides his daughter Ellowing around the floor at the March 5 Daddy and Daughter Dance at the Englewood Recreation Center. This is the first year for the dance and about 65 dads signed up. Photos by Tom Munds
Daddies take daughters to dance About 65 fathers bring girls to Englewood event By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
Scott Keslow puts a corsage on his daughter Elizabeth’s wrist as they prepare to join others attending the Daddy and Daughter Dance in Englewood. The event was on the brink of being canceled for lack of participation before a flood of registrations came in. POSTAL ADDRESS
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