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Old Teacher Charged With Prostitution

WTF?

A man who was celebrated as an “icon” after teaching social studies in Lodi for 48 years has been charged with prostitution.

Columbia County prosecutors say 72-year-old Gerald Hilliker solicited sex at a highway truck stop in the town of Caledonia last July. A criminal complaint said Hilliker distributed a flyer with a list of sex acts to truckers at the Highway 33 rest stop.

Earlier this year, Hilliker was celebrated at a school assembly upon his retirement. Lodi Middle School principal David Dyb called the longtime teacher an “icon.”

Beyond all of the just… weirdness… about the story,

note the timing.  He did this over a year ago, and then apparently worked an entire school year and retired before he was charged.  Huh!?!?  The DA claims that he didn’t have the police report.  The suspicious person in me thinks that someone might have held onto the report until the man could retire (and collect his pension) instead of being fired.  If he was charged with prostitution as an active teacher, I would have to imagine that the public outcry would have demanded his immediate firing.

UPDATE: I misread the story.  When someone says “last July” I take it to mean the previous year.  An intrepid commenter corrected me.

Posted by Owen at 1135 hrs
Law + Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. Just wondering, what article says he was arrested “last year”?  The link says “last July”?  Is “last July” in 2010 or 2009?  Article doesn’t say.

   In any event, I doubt that there would have been a conspiracy to protect his pension - I would assume that someone age 72 and on the job 48 years ago would have qualified a long time ago for the maximum pension.  I think eligibilty starts at age 55 for teachers with 30 years on the job. I don’t think having his employment terminated a year ago would have had any impact at all on future retirement benefits. 

   As to the DA holding it for over a year so that he could retire, I’m not sure that any DA (well, one maybe) would be stupid enough to do that - could you imagine the firestorm if during that time period a student was molested?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1345 hrs
   
   
   

2. At http://wcca.wicourts.gov/ it sh.ows offense date is 7/23/2010,

   State of Wisconsin vs. Gerald R Hilliker

   Columbia County Case Number 2010CM000448
   Charge(s)/Sentence(s)

   
   The Defendant was charged with the following offense: 
   Count No.  Statute Cite Description Severity Offense Date Plea
   1 944.30(1) Prostitution-Nonmarital Sex. Intercourse Misd. A 07-13-2010
   
   The Defendant was charged with the following offense: 
   Count No.  Statute Cite Description Severity Offense Date Plea
   2 944.30(1) Prostitution-Nonmarital Sex. Intercourse Misd. A 07-13-2010
   

   ————————————————————————————————————————

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1353 hrs
   
   
   

3. Oops, 7/13/10

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1354 hrs
   
   
   

4. Great catch.  When someone says “last July” I presume they mean the previous year.  July 2010 was “this July.”  July 2011 is “next July” or just “July.”  IMHO.  I’ll update the post.  Thanks!

   Posted by Owen on September 29, 2010 at 1411 hrs
   
   
   

5. And now that we’ve all settled the date question, we can get back to the real issue here, which is that pensions for Wisconsin teachers are apparently so low that in retirement they have to sell their bodies in exchange for socks and underwear.

   

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on September 29, 2010 at 1429 hrs
   
   
   

6. Well, at least Lodi has a new claim to fame - up to this point it was that actor Tom Wopat of the “Dukes of Hazzard” grew up there.  Wonder if this teacher mentored the drama club.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1443 hrs
   
   
   

7. could you imagine the firestorm if during that time period a student was molested?

   I fail to see the connection between an adult soliciting another adult and an adult molesting children.

   It’s unsavory, perhaps, but nothing I read says the guy was a threat to Our Children.

   
   I, for one, welcome the entrepreneurial spirit of Gerald Hilliker.  Flyers, man - how often do you see that?  I bet he had business cards printed up, too.

   Posted by Brian Dunbar on September 29, 2010 at 1537 hrs
   
   
   

8. fail to see the connection between an adult soliciting another adult and an adult molesting children.

   Notice I said “if” - was speaking from the perspective that “if” the DA had sat on charges for a year, and then “if” during the year a student (I should have said a student of his) had been molested, it would be on the DA’s head. 

   I’ll stay tuned for updates in Lodi - who knows, maybe there is more to be revealed - sometimest that happens.  Will make sure you are the first to know.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1550 hrs
   
   
   

9. Notice I said “if”

   I read that part.  I don’t understand how you arrived at a connection between an old prostitute and pedophilia.

   Posted by Brian Dunbar on September 29, 2010 at 1558 hrs
   
   
   

10. And now that we’ve all settled the date question, we can get back to the real issue here, which is that pensions for Wisconsin teachers are apparently so low that in retirement they have to sell their bodies in exchange for socks and underwear.

    You say that as if teachers should have pensions…..

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1940 hrs
    
    
    

11. I read this in the paper and I have to say I don’t understand the charge.  The man throws the paper out the window soliciting sex for undies and socks….people go to bars and buy a drink for other people so they can have sex….It seems the least intimidating non-confrontational….I guess I don’t see why we are spending a dime or time on this strange but lonely person.  Seriously this is stupid.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 2200 hrs
    
    
    

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