Man Accused Of Using Electronic Device For 'Lewd' Purpose

Cathy wrote:

These incidences are very disturbing, and I agree that you should be able to send your child to school feeling safe. Even one instance is too many in our schools (or anywhere), but many of you are basically accusing all teachers of doing these terrible things when it is a relatively small number compared to how many teachers there are in the state. As the saying goes: "One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch."

I totally agree with you. But in the case of apples, you can tell a bad one just by looking at it.

What about that Mathew Walters guy in Catoosa schools? The principle kept it hid last year and she's trying to again last month he was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor!! This guy lives in claremore too!! If you know him watch out!! He was telling boys to sit on his lap in his classroom!

Former Student wrote:

I always knew this guy was a little odd, he did done odd things in the classroom. He git what he deserved. I really feel for his wife though.

It seems we are talking about a different Martin Zocher. The Martin Zocher I knew, who taught college biology at TCC as well as being a high school teacher, was the kind of teacher who could get even the most disinterested people into enjoying biology. The Martin Zocher I knew, was the kind of instructor who went above and beyond to make sure you knew the material well enough to pass. The Martin Zocher I knew, wasn't just someone who taught, but was always open to the opportunity to learn a little more about things he may not know about. The Martin Zocher I knew was patient and friendly and always pulled for you in your endeavors. A brilliant individual, he was just as devoted to his subject: many is the time that I'd come to his classroom and seeing him working on an experiment of some kind, or reading up on something, and yet was never too busy to speak with you. Yeah, I think we are talking about a different Martin Zocher.

This Walters guy from Catoosa is sliding under the radar again thanks to the principle at the middle school. He resigned and is now gonna open a furniture store in claremore!! Parents keep your eye out for this pedophile!! He's trash!!

Does anyone have a link to this Walter guys story in the paper or on a sex offender list or anything?

No it was never made public that principle has been keep it hidden and trying to keep it out of the publics eye!! Although he is there on odcr.com but his charges are being kept (hidden) at the moment because the plantiff is underage. I want this son of a biotch to fry!! He's a sick person!!

skeptik1982 wrote:

<quoted text>
It seems we are talking about a different Martin Zocher. The Martin Zocher I knew, who taught college biology at TCC as well as being a high school teacher, was the kind of teacher who could get even the most disinterested people into enjoying biology. The Martin Zocher I knew, was the kind of instructor who went above and beyond to make sure you knew the material well enough to pass. The Martin Zocher I knew, wasn't just someone who taught, but was always open to the opportunity to learn a little more about things he may not know about. The Martin Zocher I knew was patient and friendly and always pulled for you in your endeavors. A brilliant individual, he was just as devoted to his subject: many is the time that I'd come to his classroom and seeing him working on an experiment of some kind, or reading up on something, and yet was never too busy to speak with you. Yeah, I think we are talking about a different Martin Zocher.

No. You two are talking about the same Zocher, I believe, because you and I are talking about the same Zocher, and I KNOW that the other guy and I are talking about the same Mr. Zocher because the article shows a picture. This "former student" obviously just had a bad experience.
The Zocher that I knew was exactly like you described. He was a fantastic teacher; he taught me more than I learned in my first year of college. I spent A LOT of time with Mr. Zocher. I was in two school clubs that he sponsored, had him for Pre-AP Chemistry, he tutored me, and I came back to visit him after I graduated. As much time as I spent with him though, I never saw this coming, and I don't think anyone could have. I still don't believe that it is true, but if it is, I am still glad that I got to have him as an instructor. I don't look up to him for this (if he DID do it), but I still do look up to him for what I did back then: he is a very intelligent man. I hope I can understand Chemistry the way Mr. Zocher does someday.
For all of you who are saying the man is an idiot-- you are wrong. What he is being accused of doing was very idiotic of him to do, if he did it, but he is still very intelligent, probably more so than most of you by the looks of your spelling... He just (if it is true) did a very stupid thing. If he did do it, I don't know where he went wrong. I hope it isn't true though; I'm having a real hard time believing it.
And, I'm sorry, I bet I'm going to get stoned for saying this, but Mr. Zocher DID NOT RAPE ANYBODY! I'm sorry, but he does NOT deserve prison time. What he is being accused of is inappropriate and perverted, yes, but it is NOT physical abuse. Seriously, does a guy who posts naked pictures of his girlfriend after they break up, against her will, deserve to go to prison? Of COURSE not. It's a crappy thing to do, but it is not prison-worthy. At least Mr. Zocher wasn't spreading these photos around the internet. Hate me if you want, but that is how I feel about it.

Someone's ability to teach a subject to others is not a gauge as to what they might do in their personal life or fetish life.

Perverts can be very likable, manipulative, intelligent or otherwise. If the person is getting older and suddenly begins to act out in a sexually inappropriate way then an organic brain problem such as a brain tumor or dementia should be looked into.

I agree with you. It doesn't have anything to do with their personal life. I simply wanted to point out that he was great at teaching, an all-around nice,likable guy and, if he actually did perform the acts he is being accused of, no one could have seen this coming. There was no way that anyone could have predicted this. He seemed like the perfect teacher. So my point is that there is no way any pre-screening could have kept this from happening, if it really did happen. I knew Mr. Zocher pretty well. He didn't do drugs, and I am sure he could pass any psychological evaluation you threw his way. I don't think there was any way to avoid this incident. I think it is silly to blame school officials and/or the people who hire these teachers because most of the time, they had/have absolutely no way of knowing that anything was/is amiss.

Personally though, I do not think that Zocher is guilty.

Newest entry, dated 9/24/10, on Martin Zocher's criminal case summary on OCIS:

JUDGE YOULL: DEFENDANT PRESENT, REPRESENTED BY JAY RAMEY. STATE REPRESENTED BY ANDREA PETERSON. DEFENDANT ARRAIGNED INSTANTER ON NEW INFORMATION. STATE AMENDS CHARGES TO MISDEMEANOR. JURY TRIAL SOUNDING SET FOR 10/18/2010 AT 9AM ROOM 158. BOND TO REMAIN. DEFENDANT RECOGNIZED BACK.
__________

There is a possibility that now the charges against Zocher have been reduced from felony charges to misdemeanors, based on new information, that it is likely the case will be resolved by a plea bargain, rather than a jury trial, according to a oklahoma criminal law website on the subject of misdemeanor jury trial soundings.

News on 6 wrote an article about the changes in the charges against Zocher on 09/30/10: "Felony Charges Against Former Owasso Teacher Downgraded"

For much detail on why the charges were downgraded from felonies to midemeanors, read the 09/30/10 article in the Owasso Reporter, titled "Zocher charges changed from felonies to misdemeanors"

It has to do with interpretation of Oklahoma law, nothing to do with any new evidence.

He deserves prison time.
Yes, he didnt physically hurt anyone, but he broke an inalienable right. PRIVACY. He violated in a worse way, trust. I had him as a teacher for biology and didnt see this coming either. He deserves four felonies.. not misdemeanors. I looked up the reasoning and it is Oklahoma's falty judgment on what is expected to be a private place. I EXPECT PRIVACY WITHIN MY ACADEMICS. It makes me sick that he is getting away with this. He was hoping that the DA wouldnt catch this clause in legislature so he would be ruled out completely and able to teach again. It is absurd; it is beyond words. He violated trust with his students by entering into privacy and taking pictures of what he certainly and absolutely shouldnt have. Think of the many girls they could prove on this case. Think of them, because they are the real ones suffering from this ordeal. He was nice, he was a great teacher, but that doesnt stand for his character alone.

not pertinent wrote:

He deserves prison time.
Yes, he didnt physically hurt anyone, but he broke an inalienable right. PRIVACY. He violated in a worse way, trust. I had him as a teacher for biology and didnt see this coming either. He deserves four felonies.. not misdemeanors. I looked up the reasoning and it is Oklahoma's falty judgment on what is expected to be a private place. I EXPECT PRIVACY WITHIN MY ACADEMICS. It makes me sick that he is getting away with this. He was hoping that the DA wouldnt catch this clause in legislature so he would be ruled out completely and able to teach again. It is absurd; it is beyond words. He violated trust with his students by entering into privacy and taking pictures of what he certainly and absolutely shouldnt have. Think of the many girls they could prove on this case. Think of them, because they are the real ones suffering from this ordeal. He was nice, he was a great teacher, but that doesnt stand for his character alone.

When you leave your home, your privacy doesn't come with you. You expose yourself to the public, you are fair game for whatever may come around. If you don't want pictures taken of up your skirt, then you better wear pants and/or keep your legs tighter together.