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Suggestive photos of suspended Stanford teacher surface

January 18, 2007

STANFORD - Suggestive photographs taken in a classroom have surfaced of a Stanford teacher who was charged with a sex offense involving a 10-year-old girl, and Superintendent Teresa Wallace now confirms the teacher was disciplined during the 2004-2005 school year, according to The Interior Journal.

Janie Hastie, a former Stanford Elementary School teacher, was suspended for 90 days without pay after her supervisor received photos of her in suggestive poses inside her own classroom. Wallace confirmed the suspension but would not give further details, and an open records request is pending.

Wallace told The IJ she was disappointed with what she was quoted as saying in a Dec. 14 edition, referring to her comment that Hastie retired in 2005 with an unblemished record. Wallace said she made that assertion in reply to the question of whether Hastie had been disciplined for photos that were posted on the Internet.

Hastie pleaded not guilty in December to a Class B felony charge of use of a child in a sexual performance. If found guilty, she could face 10 to 20 years in prison. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 29.

The now 11-year-old alleged victim is a former student of Hastie's. The former teacher allegedly engaged the girl in "mutually nudity and sexually-oriented play under the guise of teaching feminine hygiene," according to Kentucky State Police Detective Bill Collins.

The juvenile has denied that Hastie touched her during the alleged encounter.

Jailed briefly after initial charge

Hastie was briefly jailed following her arrest, and when she appeared in court and entered her not-guilty plea, her family members and friends were present. A retired Stanford Elementary School teacher, Nancy Hill, was among the supporters - she is also the mother of Carol Hill, the assistant county attorney who was prosecuting Hastie.

The IJ reported that a former official of the court speculated if the case goes to trial, Carol Hill may be considered for disqualification, along with other jurists.

She is a contemporary of Hastie's and has known her for years.

District Judge Bill Oliver, who will preside over the Jan. 29 hearing, also has a wife who works for Lincoln County Schools and is casually acquainted with Hastie. Hastie grew up in Stanford and taught school for about 20 years there.

A former court official told The IJ that in fact, there are few people in town who don't have some connection to the former teacher.

Wallace said Hastie was known as a popular teacher among parents, and the mother of the alleged victim had actually requested Hastie after her daughter had academic problems.

The IJ reported that many who knew Hastie well said a dramatic weight loss following gastric bypass and cosmetic surgery changed her behavior, and after shedding 100 pounds, she wasn't shy about showing her body off.

Hastie's former boyfriend is pictured in some of the photos. The newspaper said the photos wound up in the hands of some of his late wife's relatives and eventually were sent to school officials.

Jim Lowry of Lexington, Hastie's lawyer, declined comment, and attempts by The IJ to reach Hastie were unsuccessful.

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