John Chiv: Testimony referring to female students butts as "badonkadonk", making jokes about wet dreams and telling one of the students I love you at Landergen preliminary

Jan 31, 2023

Testimony referring to female students butts as "badonkadonk", making jokes about wet dreams and telling one of the students I love you at Landergen preliminary

Referring to female students butts as "badonkadonk", making jokes about wet dreams and telling one of the students I love you are allegations made by three of Gary Landergen's female sudents.

Retired Judge John Feeney did not hold Landergen to answer on the 4 felony counts of PC 288 (c) (1) lewd and lascivious acts with a minor aged 14 or 15 where defendant is at least 10 years older than the minor.

Landergen was held to answer on four remaining counts: Count 5 and 6 PC 243.4 sexual battery; Counts 7 and 8 PC 667.61 child molestation.

Trial confirmation is April 18; jury trial May 1. One of two bail bonds was exonerated. Hopefully, before arraignment, the DA will recharge.

Judge Feeney said that despite his ruling he does not condone Landergen's actions and this does not diminish the alleged actions given his position of trust as a teacher.

"Based on the evidence presented this afternoon, the alleged misconduct does not constitute felonious conduct."

Time waiver was entered. Trial confirmation is on April 18; jury trial May 1.

Landergen in his interview with Det. Richardson admitted to some allegations; denied others.

Did Landergen allegedly groom the girls? Allegations from students included that Landergen made comments in the classroom such as, "Why are you sad, I am always happy when I am fucking" and that wrestlers are the best lovers because they know all the moves and positions. Students allege he talked about having wet dreams and talked about his divorce.

Only Det.Richardson testified. During the the defense cross examination by Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O'Connell, it was clear that the investigation by Fortuna Police Department fell short.

Judge Feeney said he based his ruling on Det.Richardson's testimony which was was the only evidence. Could another Judge have ruled differently? Yes.

A lot of follow up not done by Det. Richardson. Fortuna needs to hire another detective who is competent or train someone else. Fortuna has a lot of arrests for child molestation and several of them are teachers.

I have seen Det. Richardson testify in many cases. Det. Richardson has to constantly refer to his report to utter every other sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm did the best with the case she was handed. Had this case been a Eureka Police Department case, the quality of investigation would be different.

You can read earlier post for charges and live information from the morning.

Preliminary hearing testimony:

Before Ms. Timm started her questioning of Det. Richardson, she made a request to Judge Feeney, "there are a number of juvenile witnesses, I request we refer to them by initials for privacy." Ms. O'Connell had no objection.

On April 5, 2022, Det. Richardson was notified by J. B. that his daughter had been sexually molested. J.B. found this out when he spoke to his ex-wife.

"I asked J if we could talk to his daughter, Jane Doe 1." When Jane Doe 1 came to the Fortuna Police Department for her interview, she was 15 years old.

Jane Doe 1 was a student at Fortuna High School. Landergen was her match teacher and track coach.

On March 30, 2022 at a track meet, Landergen put his arm around Jane Doe 1's shoulder,"he quietly told her he loved her and then lowered his hand and grabbed her butt. They were cheek to cheek and he pulled her close to him."

Det. Richardson made a motion in court demonstrating Jane Doe 1 showed him how Landergen grabbed her "butt." One of Jane Doe's friends observed this and some friends heard him say, "I love you."

Landergen had been Jane Doe 1's math teacher and coach since the beginning of that school year. "Originally, Jane Doe 1 thought he was fun. During the second semester, Landergen made inappropriate jokes of a sexual nature in the classroom which made her feel uncomfortable."

Once some of the students made a comment about "fucking." Landergen responded, "I don't know why you all look sad. I am always happy when I am fucking."

During wrestling, Landergen would make jokes that he was "good in bed." He said "wrestlers are good in bed because they know all the moves."

Landergen would tell students,"he would fuck someone as long as he had someone to do it with." Landergen made comments about female "butts", the size and use slang terms. His behavior was different with female students compared to male students.

Jane Doe 2 said she had never experienced such comments and behavior from other teachers. She and another teammate overheard Landergen comments on "butt size." Jane Doe 2 said Landergen only did this when other coaches were not around.

Jane Doe 2 told Det. Richardson there were two separate times Landergen touched her. On March 31, 2022 at practice, she was doing partner stretches in the gym. Landergen said her friend was "doing it wrong." Landergen took over. "He was touching her leg and butt. She told Landergen, ' Hey, hey stop'. She was on her back. Landergen was on top of her, moving his hand down her leg."

Landergen became angry when she told him to stop. Jane Doe 2 said other coaches used female athletes to demonstrate.

The second time Landergen touched her was at a track meeting in Redding. "Jane Doe 2 had done poorly. Landergen pulled her close and spoke to her. As she walked away, he patted her butt twice."

Jane Doe 2 was very angry with Landergen after the second incident. After this, when she would swim after stretching, Jane Doe 2 started putting on a cover.

One of the coaches overheard two girls talking about Landergen and went to the Wellness Center on campus. Jane Doe #2 did not want to be a part of the group that went there.

Landergen was Jane Doe 3's math teacher and track coach. "Just like Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 3 thought Landergen was a good teacher for the first semester. Jokes became sexual in the second semester. " Landergen made these jokes in math class and around the track team.

Jane Doe 3 told Det. Richardson about an incident at track practice in the gym. Jane Doe 3 was used to demonstrate stretches. "In front of all her teammates, Jane Doe 3 was on her back. Landergen knelt between her legs, held her legs over his shoulder and touched her hamstring area and butt."

"Jane Doe 3 turned red, giving her teammates looks of embarassment. "Jane Doe 3 said she had never had a male coach touch her that way before."

Landergen gave Jane Doe 3 "chest to chest" hugs. She heard inappropriate sexual jokes and Landergen used the word "badonkadonk" referring to female "butts." Jane Doe 3 also heard the same comment about sex and wrestlers knowing "all the moves and positions." Landergen told the class what hip stretches he did before he had sex.

E.B overheard Landergen 's comment about Jane Doe 3's butt. H.W. was not on the track team but is friends with Jane Doe 1and waams there "the day when Jane Doe 1's butt was grabbed" and heard Landergen say he loved her.

When Det. Richardson interviewed Landergen, "he denied touching Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3's butts." Landergen admitted to putting his arm around Jane Doe 1 and telling her he loved her. He admitted to putting his arm around Jane Doe 2.

Initially, Landergen denied making inappropriate comments but later said he may have made inappropriate comments. Landergen admitted to using "badonkadonk." Landergen admitted he was a "hugger" but described it as a "side hug."

Landergen told Det.Richardson "If it is on camera, then I must have done it." This was about touching one of the alleged victims' " butt."

On cross, Det. Richardson said there was no video. Det. Richardson said law enforcement asks that to guage response. Landergen told Det. Richardson "in retrospect, I should have had one of the girls demonstrate." This was about doing stretches with female students. On cross, Det. Richardson said he did not investigate if there had been any allegations at Landergen's previous school or convictions.

Earlier post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/01/people-to-call-only-one-witness-for.html?m=1

Previous posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/11/alleged-molestor-gary-landergens.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/last-time-it-was-defense-now-da-wants.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/07/defense-files-motion-to-continue-gary.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/06/fourth-confirmation-of-counsel-hearing.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/06/looks-like-landergen-having-tough-time.html?m=1#more

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/gary-landergen-preliminary-date-may.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/gary-landergen-posted-bond-again-and-is.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/gary-landergen-remanded-into-custody.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/order-striking-arrest-warrant-for-gary.html?m=1