Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — David Starr Jordan Middle School at 420 South Mariposa Street in Burbank
A well-respected and former Jordan Middle School teacher remains behind bars today, while Burbank Police investigate allegations she had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old male student last year. 33-year-old Amy Beck, wearing handcuffs, appeared in Burbank Superior Court yesterday. Beck was due to be arraigned on charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 16, but the arraignment was postponed until March 25, 2010.
In one of several strange twists to this case, Beck did not attempt to post the $175,000 bail. Her attorney, Michael Williamson, says his client “…thinks it will be best..” that she stays in jail to better cooperate with the police probe into the charges.
Last Friday Beck, a sixth grade teacher, turned in her resignation at Jordan Middle School. The unidentified victim was enrolled at Jordan during the alleged sexual affair that went on for several months. On Monday, Beck surrendered to Burbank police and earlier reports say she confessed to having sexual contact with the minor. Beck is married with children.
If found guilty, Beck faces up to seven years in prison. Oddly, Burbank police will not release Beck’s booking photo. Burbank Police Information Officer, Sergeant Robert Quesada, told me “…we won’t be releasing a photo of Ms. Beck… we don’t consider Ms. Beck a danger to the community.” I can’t help but wonder if a male suspect were facing the same allegations would his booking photo be released?
You bet if it were a male or a female that was not somehow a friend of Burbank City Hall the picture would be out there. Also if she was anything other than white and blonde they would be busy talking really really bad about her. This is Burbank don’t forget.
If she was anything other than white and blonde there would be more than pictures of her out there this is Burbank don’t forget.
It really is unbelieveable the thought process of some. I thank God everyday you don’t run businesses, churches, schools, etc..
It’s amazing just how naive you are about racism in Burbank ecio, hopefully you didn’t graduate from Burbank schools. If you did they are failing the students worse then even I imagined.
What in the heck did this have anything to do with racism? It just validates my comments about the thought process of the majority. Tom, made a ridiculous statement that the subject arrested is affiliated with someone from the city of Burbank, because he picture was posted. Always jumping to conclusions around here before getting all the facts.
For the record, I did go to Burbank schools and did graduate from a 4 year university. So what about you Jim?
I apologize for my error, I hit submit accidentally.
In referring to Tom’s statement, I felt it was ridiculous to say that the suspect was affiliated with the city because her mug shot wasn’t posted. If so, what affiliation does she have?
This is not a crime anyway. 6th graders can have sex and do chose to have sex sometimes. Ask 14 year olds about sex and learmn something for a change. This law should just be changed because people don’t follow it at all.
Get over it. Kids might be a victim of puberty but they are not victims when they chose to get sexed up. This is a conquest by a lucky dude.
So wack. If the kid robs a store he gets charged with robbery but if the kid consents to sex oh he is to young to consent. Give me a frick’n break the kid can consent and if he did it ain’t no crime. That’s the word on this one 4 sure.
14 years old is defo old enough to know what he wants so did he say he was raped or not ? If he didn’t say that let the teacher go free.
Let me remind you folks, an adult having sex with a 14-year-old is against the law. Also, a teacher is in a position of authority and is held to an even higher standard than most folks. Teachers know the rules against sex with students —and they know the consequences.
If you feel the law is wrong — work to change it. I think it’s right on and kids need to be protected from sexual predators.
The city is playing games by not releasing her mug shot, because she was a Burbank teacher, and her husband is — reportedly– an LAPD cop, although some of the newspapers have dropped this reference.
So, ‘Tom’ above is totally correct– the decision to not release her booking photo was political.
Hey
a sexual preditor forces himself or herself on someone is that what she did ? Kids can’t be and should not be protected from their own choices. It is really that simple.
Isn’t there all kinds of sexcapades in the cities government ? Didn’t the old chief get busy opeing his pants in the back seat of a Burbank
sorry, but that was a my bad because I didn’t finish what I wanted to say so here goes again.
Isn’t there all kinds of sexcapades in the cities government ? Didn’t the old chief get busy opening his pants in the back seat of a Burbank Police car ?
Ofcourse they are protecting the teacher but maybe that means they know she didn’t really do anything wrong in the first place. If the chief can have sex and everyone else can have sex at the city why can’t teachers have sex. Double standard time again ?
Grow up people teens have sex all the time, just a fact of life and the more you tell them they can’t the more they do it. gosh what if this kid told his friends how lucky he was ? That’s not abuse it’s his dream come true guys.
Don’t forget the president and the intern and the president said oral sex isn’t sex anyway.
Sounds to me like someone in Burbank is angry and jealous of the teacher. This maybe more retaliation from top officials who are just jealous.
So what maybe the teacher is a cougar or maybe the boy is a super stud. If they both wanted it where are their rights ? Just because your young you don’t have rights ? No way if they are both happy leave them alone.
Basic fundamental American freedom – the pursuit of happiness. If they are both happy leave them alone. Laws that interfere with the pursuit of happiness are illegal anyway. get a life!
She turns herself in so they make her wear handcuffs ? why ??? She turned herself in so why do that ??
It’s so messed up the officials do this stuff so what is the big deal anyway ???
I heard stories about police lieutenants molesting girls at some shelter and even taking pictures of some of them naked. Right here in Burbank that happens and did they slap handcufs on that lieutenant ???
There is no justice anymore in Burbank is there ?
Some kids bring guns to school and other kids make love at school. Just how many cops in Burbank had sex with under age minors and that got covered up ? Don’t be surprised.
Miss Fronnie,
You ran into a “policy” re:mug shots.
Burbank has a policy, Glendale has a different one,
LAPD has a different one, again.
Many of us would like to clear the air on some of the
allegations of abuse or brutality meted out by BPD
officers. The “booking” mug shots would answer some
of the allegations –so, naturally, we can’t see them!!!!
You might recall the “babbling brook” effect one evening from ANJE the night she saw some of them.
I for one cant wait to see those booking photos of the abused and brutalized suspects done by the rogue BPD Officers. I hope when you find out who those officers were, you will demand justice and not want those fellow officers working for the city of Burbank.
I am soooo tired of hearing wait until the city says or shows you this or that. Give it up.
If the city had some pictures the city should have shown them immediately and should have immediately done something about it.
Did the city do that ? Nope. The city didn’t do that because the city is behind all the stuff going on.
Get off the wait and see garbage. The city either A)HAS NOTHING TO SHOW or B) CAN’T SHOW OFF ANYTHING NOW WITHOUT CONVICTING THESELVES BECAUSE THEY KNEW FROM DAY ONE AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Your arguments just show a corrupt and desperate city that has it’s hand caught in the cookie jar.
Dixie,
I have to continue to question the Burbank PD’s “policy” with mugshots when it comes to the Amy Beck/alleged sex with a student case. The Burbank investigation seems to be a quick “rush to judgment” if indeed the story of Beck’s surrender is true.
Or perhaps, a behind the scenes deal has been struck to keep Beck’s booking photo out of the media. You have to wonder if part of the reason might be that Beck’s husband is reportedly a cop with LAPD.
Frequently, law enforcement releases the booking photo of a suspect to encourage other potential victims and witnesses to come forward. It appears Burbank PD and the Burbank City Attorney’s Office have determined there are no other victims and don’t need the assistance of witnesses.
This story is getting national coverage. A potential victim or witness may have moved out of the city of Burbank. Beck reportedly has been a Burbank teacher for around 10 years. The alleged incident with the 14-year-old male student could be an isolated incident or it could be a pattern of inappropriate sexual behavior with minors.
You would think that with all the lawsuits facing the city of Burbank for alleged improper conduct in the Burbank PD — they would handled this high-profile case in a manner that would be above suspicion.
Good thoughts on the picture of the teacher being a way to bring in more guys who had sex with her over the years. That would be what you do if having sex with her was what this is really about.
Kids are not safe in schools and that’s why lots of parents are home schooling now.
Dan,
I generally support public schools, however, I can understand why many parents are opting to home school their children these days.
Dear OK and Miss Fronnie,
The answer would be “B”.
For some unexplained reason,former Chief STEHR thought to share some booking photo’s with the City Council,after the Public suggested they might be illustrative.
Tom,
I live in Burbank. Just because it is Burbank doesn’t mean a thing. If it had been taking place in New Mexico would you have said anything?
The only reason she confessed was because the kid started bragging about it. Bragging. Should she even be charged when the kid wasn’t hurt by it? If he enjoyed it?
Everyone-
From what I am reading it seems as though you all think that the Burbank system is corrupt and stupid and what not. Burbank is a safe place. I want to ask all of you this: did you even think of all of this back when nothing happened in little old Burbank? I for one think it’s unfair to judge the BPD because of this. Just think about all the other places where worst things than this are happening or have happened. Burbank did nothing wrong. It was Mrs. Beck’s own fault for screwing around. Don’t blame Burbank if you have to blame somebody.