Comments on: Thunderstroms Rip Through Decatur Indiana

By: cindy

cindy — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:04:21 +0000

Lola, FYI, the last time I check adultery is NOT a crime. And don’t bring rumors up like that. That is more hurtful than any of the previous postings.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:09:10 +0000

Ok I have tried to stay out of this….but DO NOT bring his wife into this…..I know she would not have just sat by and let this go…she would have gotten him the help he needs….

By: karan

karan — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:58:02 +0000

I dont think anyone is saying the school board needs to just fire him. We just want a statment from the school board on thier intentions.
Should he be fired? yes, they also need to follow the proper channels which they will and that do not take that long. Mr Hakes should not contest his firing.
As far as the police man that hit the step daughter, he was ultimatly fired. He contested his firing.
Mrs Hakes had to know her husband was stealing. I know my husbands bank account and how much comes in and goes out. This could not have been the 1st time he pulled such a stunt, it was just the 1st time he got caught.
The fact that he would chose to steal from such a large store that obviously has cameras, shows his total lack in judegment. The problem wiht principals ( I speak from a long line of educators-some being in Admin roles) is they feel a false sence of “I am the king of my domain” This unfortunatly has carried over into his every day life. Mr Hakes feels as if rules do not apply to him, and trust me a wife would know if her husband had that attitude. He needed help along time ago, maybe now he will get it.

By: lola

lola — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:25:11 +0000

After reading all of the comments on Mr. Hakes, I think there are a few things that need to be brought to light. We all agree that what he did was a crime and he should lose his job. I think that will happen, but many of you don’t realize that the school board cannot just fire him without going through the proper channels etc. It is different than a job in the private sector, where they could fire that person on the spot.
Unfortunately all of this gives the Middle School a black eye, but BMS will survive. It has many wonderful teachers, administrators, and staff that care about the kids. It is unfair that the school is being judged due to Mr. Hakes actions. After reading through this post, one thing is evident. Human beings make mistakes, even those in positions of authority. I agree that there was a conflict of interest in the fact that Judge Heimann was the judge who heard Mr. Hakes case. Judge Heiman’s daughter was hired by Mr. Hakes as a track coach and she also dealt with him at the school due to her job working with troubled kids at BMS. This doesn’t matter at this point, except we can make a difference. Those of you who are on this post and complaining about how Mr. Hakes screwed your kid and you, why don’t you get more involved in volunteering at your child’s school. You may then see the lack of discipline many of these kids have. Many of them don’t have positive role models or anyone for that matter in their lives who teach them that hard work and making the right choices is the way to live. Teachers have a very difficult job, they have to be a parent many times to kids, they hear horror stories about what kids go through at home, then when they act out and get in trouble at school, they get yelled at by parents for caring about their kids. I don’t think Decatur is any different than any other community except there does seem to be a large amount of free housing and people who claim to be disabled. But this is how these people were raised and brought up. My heart goes out to Mr. Hakes family. They did not make the choice to steal, he did, but they have to deal with all of the criticism. I think everyone needs to relax and let the school board and Mr. Sirk do their job. Remember, it is easy to sit and criticize others but do you really know the whole story? Remember about a year ago when the Decatur Police officer hit his step-daughter and was found not-guilty? He was suspended with pay. This is just how our system works. Also those of you who are praising Mr. Cook, need to know he is not as perfect as you all may think. He should have arrested Mr. Hakes, that is his job. Is adultery a crime?

By: ann marie

ann marie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:43:10 +0000

IC 35-43-4-3
Conversion
Sec. 3. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally exerts unauthorized control over property of another person commits criminal conversion, a Class A misdemeanor.

By: ann marie

ann marie — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:52:05 +0000

So thats it? Its done? he plead guilty to a mis A and the judge accepted and no more??
Is he going to have to do any type of work release or classes?? Does he have to pay any restituion or fines?
Hes off and the school board has no comment??

By: karan

karan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:47:22 +0000

and I am not good with faces, who was his lawyer??? Big Shame on him too….next time one of my kids gets in trouble, I am going to get them to memorize the Chris Hakes quote and repeat it verbatum

By: karan

karan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:45:50 +0000

Well thanks to WANE tv, and shame on our school board for not returning calls. Shame on the judge for accepting such a weak plea, shame on Chris Hakes for even considering taking such a weak plea in front of a judge. Shame on Walmart for accepting such a weak plea—maybe now we can all steal from walmart, what are we gonna get? banned for life–oh no!!!
and biggest shame of all to the DDD for not even reporting news that was worthy of Ft Waynes 1st 3 minutes and we didnt even get a line in the newspaper and it was in our town, at our school???
Ya, this sucks.

By: georgiann

georgiann — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:38:42 +0000

I wonder if a kid would say you admit you mistakes and go on would help to get an easier punishment from him???? Makes me wonder…..this is not right.
the kids will not listen to him now. you forgive mistakes…really bad ones…but you never forget. I remember some teachers that I had who humiliated me infront of my classmates and I have never forgotten it. I was glad to get to BHS to get away from those teachers.

By: georgiann

georgiann — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:22:56 +0000

When I subbed at the Middle school, I did see some favorites of this man. I even went to talk to him about a student being punished to harshly, and I was the wrong one….my plea for the kid fell on deaf ears. there are favorites at the high school too. I once had a class that was being very unruly…freshman english, and the teacher who was a basketball coach, at the time, got all of his players out of trouble as I wrote him a note and told him who was causing trouble in HIS class for me. He just talked to them, and they all got off/out of trouble. I never accepted an assignment to be in his class ever again. He took away any authority I had in that class, and subs have it hard in many classes anyway. The kids should have had to atleast had to write a paper or something. I hope the board does the right thing, and does something right. Yes kids do some really dumb things at times, but don’t make them dislike school or take authority from teachers who earn respect from the kids.