# univ. of W. ..pays jailed child molester's salary **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709 "2005-08-26T08:32:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OliverTwistofLime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/1 "2005-08-26T08:32:06Z")
On O’Reilly this evening, it was noted that the University of Wisconsin is paying a convicted professors’ salary while he is in jail. He is in jail because of 3 young female molestations. He pled no contest to the charges. He committed 3 known and admitted molestions in the past 10 years. Do you believe that child molesters can be rehabilitated? If you were a tax-paying citizen living in Wisconsin would you approve or disprove of continuing this man’s salary? If you live outside of the state of Wisconsin would your view on the above be different? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/2 "2005-08-26T09:51:36Z")
I guess it depends on the man’s contract. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/3 "2005-08-26T12:41:00Z")
Like **Alessan** said, if he has tenure, there is nothing they can do. Btw, I would not take Baba O’Reily’s word for it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/4 "2005-08-26T12:57:57Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Like **Alessan** said, if he has tenure, there is nothing they can do. I think you’re woefully misguided as to what tenure entails. It does not, in most places, mean you can commit crimes and still expect to stay employed. The University of Wisconsin’s Faculty Rules and Procedures state that: > [@](#): > > No faculty member shall be subject to dismissal except for just cause, based upon a determination that the faculty member’s conduct directly and substantially affects adversely, to a degree greater than that reserved for disciplinary action, the ability to carry out satisfactorily his/her responsibilities to the university. Examples of conduct that may warrant dismissal include, but are not limited to, fraud or intentional misrepresentation of facts for personal benefit, gross abuse of authority or influence (e.g.,discriminatory or retaliatory actions, particularly where a pattern is evident), or willful and protracted violations of university rules or policies. I think being incarcerated for child molestation would constitute just cause, myself. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/5 "2005-08-26T13:15:15Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I think being incarcerated for child molestation would constitute just cause, myself. But that’s just me. So, is it really as simple as, "The people at UOW are drain dead idiots who can dismiss him at anytime, and there is no good reason why they should not? I don’t think so. I have done a search on this subject, and have seen a link to the Churchhill story. (NOTE: If this guy is anything like Churchhill, the tax-payer only pays 10% of his salary. [cite](http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E150%257E2690968,00.html)) I would not be surprised if this story was nothing what O’Reily claims it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/6 "2005-08-26T13:16:11Z")
[Here’s](http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=50278&ntpid=2) a story on this. > [@](#): > > ROBERTO CORONADO > > Position: Medical School professor > > Salary: $137,641 > > Crime and sentence: Eight years in prison; Coronado pleaded no contest to two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child and one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child. > > Job status: UW-Madison moved to dismiss him in mid-June after a university investigation into his conduct, but he remains on the payroll pending his appeals. Coronado is being paid through accrued vacation time and will be put on unpaid leave when that time runs out in about 10 weeks, officials said, pending the outcome of his university appeals process. They’ve moved to fire him; he would have gotten paid for his vacation time anyway, so what’s the big deal? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/7 "2005-08-26T13:19:55Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > \ so what’s the big deal? The big deal is that if you phrase it the way it is stated in the first sentence of the OP, it makes it sound like the University will activly pay a know criminal for the next 8 years. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/8 "2005-08-26T13:22:41Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > The big deal is that if you phrase it the way it is stated in the first sentence of the OP, it makes it sound like the University will activly pay a know criminal for the next 8 years. Well, the OP has now been corrected and hopefully will know better than to take O’Reilly’s word for anything anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/9 "2005-08-26T13:24:34Z")
Just another attack on ivory tower academics and their sweet deal in life by the idiot right. Prolly work, too. If you’re a fan of O’Reilly’s critical thinking prolly isn’t your forte. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/10 "2005-08-26T13:26:47Z")
The Fourteenth Amendment requires that states do not deprive anyone of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. A job is a property interest. Ergo, a state institution cannot fire someone without due process. As **This Year’s Model** has shown, the university is trying to fire the guy, and I’m sure they’ll be successful, but as a state employee, he has appeal rights before they’re allowed to stop paying him. Or, to boil it down, Bill O’Reilly has his head up his ass, again, and **MadSam** should learn not to accept anything he says on faith. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/11 "2005-08-26T13:58:51Z")
> [@MadSam](#): > > Do you believe that child molesters can be rehabilitated? I am not a member of the medical profession and thus have no idea if child molestors actually can be rehabilitated. On the other hand, it appears that competent members of said profession have come to the conclusion that they can be. > [@](#): > > If you were a tax-paying citizen living in Wisconsin would you approve or disprove of continuing this man’s salary? I would approve of paying the man’s salary pending the outcome of any legal appeals he has in regard to termination of his employment. I noticed in the OP that the defendant pleaded no contest. In other words, he didn’t say he’s guilty but rather that he’s just not going to bother to fight the charges. > [@](#): > > If you live outside of the state of Wisconsin would your view on the above be different? Well, I currently live well outside the state of Wisconsin (check my location). When I did live in the state of California, there was an embezzlement case at my university, a state-run institution. I support the way the university handled dismissing the embezzler (by following the established procedures, allowing for leave of absence, etc.)–I just don’t support how the university’s shoddy management of the embezzler’s section allowed the embezzlement to happen. In the case in the OP, I support the way the university is pursuing the dismissal from employment. After all, if they violate the law, then the unlawfully dismissed employee can win a case against them! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/12 "2005-08-26T14:07:06Z")
BTW, you might want to read the very beginning of the article to which This Year’s Model linked. The state is going to examine their policies and laws and possibly (probably) change some laws because of not only the case mentioned in the OP, but a few other cases also. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/13 "2005-08-26T14:09:14Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > So, is it really as simple as, "The people at UOW are drain dead idiots who can dismiss him at anytime, and there is no good reason why they should not? No. But is it really as simple as: > [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Like Alessan said, if he has tenure, there is nothing they can do. They are firing him. Looks like they will succeed. That’s a far cry from doing nothing. Why don’t you do a little research sometime, before spouting off? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/14 "2005-08-26T14:09:24Z")
BTW, you might want to read the very beginning of the article to which This Year’s Model linked. The state is going to examine their policies and laws and possibly (probably) change some laws because of not only the case mentioned in the OP, but a few other cases also. I checked O’Reilly’s website on Fox and didn’t see any mention of the case, so I guess I’ll have to wait until it appears on there to see exactly what the man did say about the case. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/15 "2005-08-26T14:09:36Z")
I would like to know how old the “child” was in this case. As we all know, the media tends to try to make things sound as outrageous as possible. It’s a tad bit different if the conviction was on stautory rape of a teenager, rather than the forcible rape of a little kid. As to whether child molesters can be rehabilitated, all I can say is: it depends. My husband has worked in corrections for seven years, at times in charge of sex-offender rehabilitation programs. The answer to this question is that it depends on if the offender _wants_ to change. _Nothing_ on God’s green earth can “fix” a man who doesn’t want to change his ways. A man who wants to change faces the same struggles as any other sort of addict. Most offenders will not admit fault. Either they claim they are not guilty, or they have a million excuses why what they did really wasn’t a crime. To be admitted to most programs, an offender has to admit guilt, so you can understand the problem, here. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/16 "2005-08-26T22:43:43Z")
My sister works for the UW(at the medical school) she said this has been a mess and very trying on the department as well as the UW. The sicko would call her(after he was arrested and released on bail) wanting to get into his lab and wanted to know what the status of his research grants were. They had been suspended and the Chair of the dept. wouldn’t allow him back until things were settled. Well, he isn’t alllowed back now. The children involved were \*\*pre teen \*\* and it went on for awhile, starting when they were young. I guess he also didn’t limit his contact to just the human variety either. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/17 "2005-08-26T23:15:12Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I think you’re woefully misguided as to what tenure entails. It does not, in most places, mean you can commit crimes and still expect to stay employed. > > The University of Wisconsin’s Faculty Rules and Procedures state that: > > I think being incarcerated for child molestation would constitute just cause, myself. But that’s just me. But he didn’t violate UNIVERSITY rules. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/18 "2005-08-27T00:06:04Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > But he didn’t violate UNIVERSITY rules. The rules don’t say “You can’t molest little girls” but what was posted does show that the rules say you can’t do anything that substantially and adversely affects your ability to carry out your job. Getting locked up for molesting little girls certainly has such a negative affect, and thus the U of W can fire him. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/19 "2005-08-27T00:23:55Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > and thus the U of W can fire him. Correct. And they’re doing it the legal way, not just out of knee-jerk reaction (such as in the OP). ---
**Author:** ![OliverTwistofLime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709/20 "2005-08-27T00:47:57Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Correct. And they’re doing it the legal way, not just out of knee-jerk reaction (such as in the OP). I often wonder if your “respect” for the laws involving child molesters would remain the same if it was your little boy or girl who was raped or assaulted by the molester. If it was your child, would you be irritated if I said: He should be allowed to exhaust his appeals before he moves from next door to you or loses his 139,000/yr. job? How would you critical thinkers deal with this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709.md?page=2)