James Christopher Hooker, 41, former (resigned) business teacher at James C. Enochs High School, Modesto City Schools, Modesto, California, came under suspicion when he married a student immediately after she turned 18 Previously taught at: Grace Davis High School, Modesto City Schools, Modesto, California Name: James Christopher Hooker Age: 41 (born 2 May 1970) School: Resigned from James C. Enochs High School, Modesto City Schools, Modesto, California; formerly taught at Grace Davis High School, Modesto City Schools, Modesto, California Position: Business teacher Victim: Girl, 17 UPDATE: It appears the Modesto, California, Police Department has now officially nominated James Hooker for Tomcat status by arresting him on Friday, April 6, and charging him with ... one count of oral copulation with a minor for an incident police said happened 14 years ago. The charge stems from a relationship Christopher James Hooker allegedly had with a 17-year-old Davis High student in 1998, where he was teaching at the time. More details below starting in post #7. Here is his latest photo: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You decide! James Hooker claims (1) he waited until Jordan Powers was 18 and (2) he resigned his teaching position before their relationship became physical. At that point he abandoned his wife and three children and set up housekeeping with Jordan, whom he first met when she was a 14-year-old freshman in one of his classes. James Hooker Jordan's mother, Tammie Powers, wants him busted, claiming she's found ample evidence of an illegal relationship: "phone records showing long, late-night phone calls and more than 8,000 text messages between the couple". Meanwhile, James Hooker's 17-year-old daughter attends the same Enochs High School in Modesto where James Hooker used to teach and Jordan Powers used to be a student. Jordan Powers One bit of advice to the young Ms. Powers: You know he left a wife & 3 kids to move in with you -- please don't be surprised if you awaken some morning and find yourself & your own children similarly abandoned. You already know what kind of man you've attracted. At this point James Hooker has not been arrested or charged with anything, so I'm not going to do the usual posting. Please read a few of the articles below then vote in the poll at the top of this thread: Is James Hooker a tomcat or not? News items about James Hooker and Jordan Powers, Modesto, California, published on 29 February 2012: The Greenwich Diva: James Enochs High School teacher James Hooker says he fell in love with student Jordan Powers before her 18th birthday News items about James Hooker and Jordan Powers, Modesto, California, published on 1 March 2012: Huffington Post: James Hooker, California High School Teacher, Leaves Job And Family For Former Student CBS Local Sacramento: Modesto School In Spotlight After Revelation of Student-Teacher Love Affair MSNBC: Calif. teacher resigns after leaving family for student International Business Times: Teacher James Hooker Leaves Family, Job for High School Student ABC News: California Teen Leaves School, Moves in With Former Teacher KPIC: Teacher quits, leaves wife, moves in with teenaged student San Francisco Weekly: James Hooker, Modesto Teacher, Leaves Wife and Kids, Moves in with Student KSEE 24: Modesto Teacher, 41, Leaves Wife to Move In with 18 Year Old Student San Francisco Chronicle: Teacher quits, leaves wife, moves in with student Press Democrat: Central California teacher quits, leaves wife, moves in with student Fox 40: Teacher Living with Student: We Did Nothing Illegal WJBF: 41-Year-Old Man Resigns Teaching Job, Moves In With 18-Year-Old Former Student Gather: James Hooker: Teacher's Shocking Affair with Student Modesto Bee: Eyes of national media on Modesto teacher-student couple San Jose Mercury News: Teacher quits, leaves wife, moves in with student L.A. Times: Modesto teacher who left wife to live with student has no regrets USA Today: Calif. teacher leaves family to live with student, 18 Tags:
News items about James Hooker and Jordan Powers, Modesto, California, published on 2 March 2012: International Business Times: Teacher, 41, 'Groomed' Student before Moving in with Her Fox News: Mother launches Facebook campaign against former teacher moving in with teen Web Pro News: Facebook Campaign Launched Against James Hooker: Tammie Powers Takes to Social Media Fox 40: Friends and Neighbors of Teacher Living with Student Speak Out ABC News: California Teen Moves in With Teacher San Jose Mercury News: Modesto teen and her ex-teacher lover make the talk show rounds UK Daily Mail: Every parent's worst nightmare: Student, 18, moves in with computer teacher, 41, after he leaves wife and children and quits job WUSA 9: James Hooker And Jordan Powers Are Living Together WPTV: James Hooker, Calif. teacher, leaves wife, moves in with Jordan Powers, Enochs High School student: Police investigating Fox News Insider: Kelly’s Court: Should 40-Year-Old Teacher Be Charged in Relationship With 18-Year-Old Student? News 10: VIDEO: Modesto teacher, former student discuss affair Hollywood Grind: James Hooker is Living With His Former Student Jordan Powers NBC Bay Area: Teacher Ditches Job, Family to Live With Student: James Hooker and Jordan Powers said they decided to follow their hearts Neon Tommy: Teacher And Former Student Embrace National Media Attention JD Journal: Teacher Quits Job and Leaves Family for Student Media Bistro: Scandalous Teacher-Student Romance Has Modesto Bee Website Buzzing Stars and Stripes: Teacher-student relationship raises host of ethical questions International Business Times: Jordan Powers: 18-Year-Old Moves in with Former High School Teacher, Mother Alleges Abuse KSDK: James Hooker leaves wife, children to live with 18-year-old student Jordan Powers Time: Teacher Sparks Investigation for Relationship with Former Student
News items about James Hooker and Jordan Powers, Modesto, California, published on 3 March 2012: L.A. Times: Modesto mom vows to 'get' teacher who's living with her daughter, 18 Modesto Bee: Family of Modesto teacher makes statement; Enochs' staff 'appalled' Merced Sun-Star: Our View: Modesto teacher violates everyone's trust
News items about James Hooker and Jordan Powers, Modesto, California, published on 5 March 2012: Job Mouse: Teacher Quits Jobs to Move in With Teenager
San Francisco Weekly (6 April 2012): James Hooker, Modesto Teacher Who Moved in with Student, Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault MSN (6 April 2012): Ex-California teacher who moved in with student arrested on 1998 molestation charge CBS Local Sacramento (6 April 2012): Modesto Police Arrest Former Teacher Hooker For Sexual Assault On Minor ABC News (6 April 2012): California Teacher in Relationship With Student Arrested for Sexual Assault
NBC Bay Area (6 April 2012): James Hooker Held for Alleged Underage Relationship L.A. Times (6 April 2012): Modesto teacher who left wife for student charged in '98 case 3 KCRA (6 April 2012): Teacher Who Left Family For Teen Faces '98 Sex Charge: Hooker, Powers Have Defended Relationship Publicly News 10 (6 April 2012): Teacher involved w/ ex-student arrested in other student sex case
Fox 40 Sacramento (6 April 2012): Modesto Teacher Living with Student Arrested Merced Sun Star (6 April 2012): Modesto police arrest ex-teacher, allege sex abuse of student Contra Costa Times (6 April 202): Former Modesto teacher arrested for sexual contact with another teen
This is a lengthy article with a good recap of the case to date. I strongly recommend reading the entire article if you are interested in this case. Modesto Bee: Judge: Ex-Modesto teacher Hooker must stand trial in 1998 sex case (Jan 16 2013) A judge on Wednesday denied a motion to dismiss a felony charge against a former Modesto teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl 14 years ago. James Hooker, 42, of Modesto is charged with one count of committing oral copulation with a person younger than 18, stemming from the alleged incident in the summer of 1998. Now a 31-year-old woman, the alleged victim testified in Hooker's October preliminary hearing that the defendant performed oral sex on her at his mother's rural house near Turlock.
KCRA: Jury selection next for ex-Modesto teacher who left family for student: James Hooker faces trial for sex charges (July 15 2013) Jury selection is next for the former Modesto teacher who garnered national attention when he and a former student moved in together. James Hooker was arrested at his home on one count of oral copulation with a minor last year. Over a year later, Hooker faces a trial that begins Monday with the selection of a jury.
Modesto Bee: James Hooker pleads no contest to misdemeanor (July 15 2013) James Hooker, a former Modesto teacher who gained national attention last year when he left his wife for a former student, reached a settlement today in a criminal case stemming from a previous encounter. Hooker pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. Hooker had been charged with one count of committing oral copulation with a person younger than 18, stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred in 1998. The plea agreement was announced as jury selection was set to get under way in the case.
Modesto Bee: James Hooker pleads no contest to misdemeanor (July 11 2013) James Hooker, a former Modesto teacher who gained national attention last year when he left his wife for a former student, reached a settlement today in a criminal case stemming from a previous encounter. Hooker pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. Hooker had been charged with one count of committing oral copulation with a person younger than 18, stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred in 1998. The plea agreement was announced as jury selection was set to get under way in the case. San Francisco Chronicle: Former Modesto teacher enters plea for alleged sex (July 15 2013)
ModestoBee: James Hooker reaches plea deal, must register as sex offender (July 16 2013) Attorneys reached a last-minute plea deal Monday, avoiding a trial for former Modesto teacher James Hooker, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of having oral sex with an underage high school student 15 years ago. As part of the plea deal, the 43-year-old Modesto defendant will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Thomas Zeff ordered Hooker not to initiate contact or communication with females ages 12 to 18 unless another adult is present. The defendant's daughters are excluded from this court order. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday to a suspended jail term of 180 days and four years of probation. If he commits another crime in the next three years or violates his probation, the judge can order him to serve up to 180 days in jail.
Modesto Bee: Victim speaks out at James Hooker's sentencing hearing (July 17 2013) Michelle Miller’s hand quivered as she tightly held a written statement, explaining how at 17 years old she became involved in a sexual relationship with a Modesto teacher 11years older. She met Hooker at a Future Business Leaders of America conference. He was then a business teacher at Davis High School; she was a senior at Beyer High. “There were no warning signs I could see,” Miller said, while reading her victim impact statement in a Stanislaus County courtroom Wednesday afternoon. “James Hooker didn't act like a predator.” She said she suffered from depression, had lost contact with her friends, and her boyfriend had moved two hours away for a job. Miller said she was vulnerable, and Hooker took advantage of that vulnerability. “The person responsible is James Hooker,” she said....A few weeks after the sexual encounter at his mother’s house near Turlock in August 1998, Hooker ended the relationship, Miller said. She testified that Hooker told her his wife had discovered an email that revealed the affair. Merced Sun Star: Ex-Modesto teacher sentenced in relationship with teen (July 17 2013)
L.A. Times: Modesto teacher who left wife for student to register as sex offender (July 18 2013) A former Modesto teacher accused of molesting a 17-year-old student in 1998 must register as a sex offender, according to a plea deal reached this week, Fox40 reported Thursday ... The agreement requires Hooker, who once taught at Enoch High School, to register as a sex offender. His sentence was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, Fox 40 reported. Hooker will be on probation for 48 months and might have to serve a 180-day jail sentence if the probation terms are violated.
San Jose Mercury News: Calif. teacher sentenced in student sex case (July 18 2013) James Hooker was sentenced on Wednesday in Stanislaus County after pleading no contest earlier this week to a misdemeanor charge of having oral sex with a 17-year-old girl in 1998. In addition to registering as a sex offender, he was ordered to serve four years of probation. His alleged victim, now 32, told the court that Hooker took advantage of her at a time when she was suffering from depression.