Modesto Teenager Back Together With Teacher Charged In Sex Assault
MODESTO (CBS SF) – An 18-year-old Modesto high school student is back with her former boyfriend and 41-year-old teacher, days after his arrest on charges of sexual assault against another underage student in 1998.
Jordan Powers told CBS 13 in Sacramento that she has resumed seeing James Hooker after publicly breaking up with him and leaving the state following his arrest April 6th.
When a CBS 13 reporter knocked on Hooker's Modesto apartment Tuesday, Powers answered the door.
"We just talked to your mom. She was afraid you were back with James. Are you two back together?" reporter Checkey Beckford asked Jordan.
"Yeah," she replied. "I don't want to do any news, though. I'm just not interested in talking at all," she said.
Tammie Powers said Hooker hasn't stopped in his pursuit of her daughter, constantly calling and texting and even hanging around Powers' home.
"Oh no, he's relentless," she said. "She's still talking, dealing with James. He's not going to quit. He's a pedophile, in my opinion. It's disgusting."
Hooker, the former teacher at Enochs High School in Modesto was recently charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student after they allegedly met at a Future Business Leaders of America conference and struck up a relationship back in 1998.
The girl was a student at Davis High School in Modesto where Hooker taught at the time.
The now 31-year-old woman said she went to police after seeing TV reports of Hooker's relationship with Powers, which has made national headlines after the pair went on the 'Dr. Phil' show to talk about their relationship.
Powell was subsequently charged with one count of oral copulation in the 1998 case.
Neighbors said Powers moved back in a few days ago.
Beckford asked if if Hooker was willing to talk. "No, he's not available," Jordan said. "I'll give you a call if I'm interested in talking later on."Neighbors who don't want to be identified said they're sickened by the whole thing. "It's kind of disturbing this teacher would go about that," one said.
"She came out and she had wet hair like she got out of the shower or something," said another. "It's not right. It's not right."
Tammie Powers, who has waged a campaign against Hooker, including appearing on the same episode of ' Dr. Phil,' isn't sure what will happen next.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," she admitted.
Also on Tuesday, a bill that would have made it a crime for teachers to engage in sexual relationships with their students, regardless of if the student is 18, was defeated in committee at the state Capitol.
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