High school principal tells student to delete video exposing teacher theft

If this was a story about simple theft, it would not be a story. In Linden, Calif., sophomore Justine Betti video recorded a teacher stealing items from student backpacks, and after reporting the theft to Linden High School principal Richard Schmidig, Betti was told to delete the video evidence and the matter would be investigated.

The key word here is evidence, and there are two issues here. First, did Betti commit a crime video recording the teacher within the school locker room as she rifled through the student backpacks and second, did Schmidig suggest committing a crime by asking Betti to delete the video evidence.

I know California is a “two-party consent” state when it comes to recording audio communications but as to video, I’m not sure. What do you think? I’m wondering why law enforcement is not involved at this point.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

7 Comments

  1. JBS on February 27, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    The possibilities are endless. Did the principal know of this? Suspect it? Encourage it? How long has this teacher been doing this? Is she a Democrat or a Tea Partyer? Is she disturbed? Was she looking for drugs and just happened to find money, etc?
    I’ll look for more on this . . .



  2. Dimsdale on February 27, 2013 at 5:30 pm

    Too late!? Once it is on the net, it is never going to disappear.? Ask former congressman Weiner.
    ?
    Deleting evidence is destroying evidence, so the principal’s request is likely illegal.? At any rate, the girl should ignore it unless the police tell her to delete it.? SOS would know!



  3. PatRiot on February 27, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Miss Betti is cool in my book.? Sounds like a case for?attorney Miranda Rights.



  4. ricbee on February 27, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    Obviously the request was denied since 1,000s are looking at it. A principal carries very little authority in school & none outside it.



  5. Steve McGough on February 28, 2013 at 8:43 am

    To clarify – she had already shared the video with her dad prior to the principal asking it to be deleted. The video (obviously) was not deleted. The issue of course is the proposed cover-up by the principal.



    • JBS on February 28, 2013 at 9:40 am

      In a sane world, he would be toast.
      However, with this attention, he could become the new Darling of the Left.



  6. Lynn on February 28, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    Oxymoron: Moral Authority



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