News
SCSU Cheerleaders Nude Photos
Published: Nov 02, 2003 - 10:13 PM
NEW HAVEN ? Six photos of semi-nude female torsos discovered at Southern Connecticut State University, one of them of a former cheerleader, have led to the dismissal of the team?s cheerleading coach and his suspension from his job as a middle school teacher. Robert Beach was let go as the cheerleading coach on Monday for allegedly knowing about the existence of the "inappropriate" photos and not reporting them to the school administration, according to Southern?s Police Chief John Prokop.
Prokop said Beach denied responsibility for taking the photos, which were found on a disk in his camera bag at the university, but he admitted he knew they existed.
The chief said the material is "at least 3? years old" and therefore the state?s law against voyeurism would not be applicable.
Hamden Superintendent of Schools Alida Begina said she put Beach on paid administrative leave after officials from SCSU contacted her Tuesday morning.
Beach is a health teacher at Hamden Middle School and has worked for Hamden public schools for four years, Begina said. He does not coach any Hamden school teams.
The outcome of SCSU?s investigation will determine Hamden?s next course of action, Begina said.
Patrick Dilger, a spokesman for SCSU, said the photos were discovered on Saturday after someone connected with the team, who was shooting pictures of the squad after the football game, needed a second disk and retrieved one from Beach?s bag.
When they downloaded that disk, they found the photos of the women, mainly headless torsos, nude from the waist up, he said. The one exception was a semi-nude shot of a former student, Prokop said.
Beach, contacted at his home Wednesday, said he left his position at Southern "for personal reasons and that?s my only comment."
At this point the issue is a personnel matter, although the SCSU police are continuing their investigation. No criminal charges have been filed.
Dilger said Beach?s computer at Southern was examined and "nothing pertinent" to the case was found on it. Prokop said it has been sent to another law enforcement agency for review, which he would not name.
The chief said police do not have a warrant to search Beach?s home, but if that is appropriate, after further review, they will seek one.
Prokop said "he (Beach) knew the disk existed and did not take the appropriate action with the administration ? therefore, he was separated from state service."
The chief said the disk was in a camera case, along with other disks that belonged to Beach.
He said however, other people had access to the bag "on a regular basis. A number of people utilized the equipment."
Prokop said Beach should have said to the administration, "I have a concern (about the photos) and we need to do something about it. That action was never taken."
Dilger said Beach was the cheerleading coach for most of the past 19 years. He also was the assistant gymnastic coach. Both are part-time positions and he was relieved of both duties. Beach also worked for a few years at the University of Kentucky.
The spokesman said the SCSU squad won several national awards while coached by Beach.
The chief said the material is "at least 3? years old" and therefore the state?s law against voyeurism would not be applicable.
Hamden Superintendent of Schools Alida Begina said she put Beach on paid administrative leave after officials from SCSU contacted her Tuesday morning.
Beach is a health teacher at Hamden Middle School and has worked for Hamden public schools for four years, Begina said. He does not coach any Hamden school teams.
The outcome of SCSU?s investigation will determine Hamden?s next course of action, Begina said.
Patrick Dilger, a spokesman for SCSU, said the photos were discovered on Saturday after someone connected with the team, who was shooting pictures of the squad after the football game, needed a second disk and retrieved one from Beach?s bag.
When they downloaded that disk, they found the photos of the women, mainly headless torsos, nude from the waist up, he said. The one exception was a semi-nude shot of a former student, Prokop said.
Beach, contacted at his home Wednesday, said he left his position at Southern "for personal reasons and that?s my only comment."
At this point the issue is a personnel matter, although the SCSU police are continuing their investigation. No criminal charges have been filed.
Dilger said Beach?s computer at Southern was examined and "nothing pertinent" to the case was found on it. Prokop said it has been sent to another law enforcement agency for review, which he would not name.
The chief said police do not have a warrant to search Beach?s home, but if that is appropriate, after further review, they will seek one.
Prokop said "he (Beach) knew the disk existed and did not take the appropriate action with the administration ? therefore, he was separated from state service."
The chief said the disk was in a camera case, along with other disks that belonged to Beach.
He said however, other people had access to the bag "on a regular basis. A number of people utilized the equipment."
Prokop said Beach should have said to the administration, "I have a concern (about the photos) and we need to do something about it. That action was never taken."
Dilger said Beach was the cheerleading coach for most of the past 19 years. He also was the assistant gymnastic coach. Both are part-time positions and he was relieved of both duties. Beach also worked for a few years at the University of Kentucky.
The spokesman said the SCSU squad won several national awards while coached by Beach.
