Michael Johnson
15425 Wabisi Rd.
Apple Valley, CA 92307
November 11, 2003
RE: Dr. Marks’ letter, dated November 5, 2003, NOTICE OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION - Termination
Dear Dr. Marks:
I have been an employee with the Victor Valley Union High School District in Victorville, CA for approximately eleven years. I have an exemplary work record, which I can demonstrate via paperwork and witnesses. I enjoyed my job very much, as I discovered that a position that I took simply as “a job” turned into a most rewarding opportunity to work with refreshing young students, truly eager to learn and improve their lot. I also had outstanding relationships with nearly all, if not all, of my peers, and enjoyed mutual respect with many of them. Additionally, I have had many outstanding relationships with the students of the class, and I believe that I have earned the respect of most, if not all of them. During this entire period, I have received nothing but accolades from those in positions above mine. Until March 31, 2003, that is.
On March 26, 2003, I became aware of serious violations of Federal Felony crimes statutes, occurring right under my nose in my immediate work area. These monstrous crimes had occurred several times daily, seven days a week, for about four years. As a United States citizen, directed by the following statute of U. S. code:
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 4 – Misprision of felony
I reported the activity to my immediate supervisor, Gloria McGee on March 31, 2003.
Ms. McGee spent a few days attempting to “hide it under the rug”, and after I made it clear to her that this was much too severe of an instance of crimes to be ignored, she and other district personnel began a harassment campaign against me, which I can document. Over a long period of time, I informed Ms. McGee and Mr. Findling on several occasions that these crimes were still occurring, and in each case they either did not respond, or stated that they would look into it, as they feigned interest in getting together the facts of the matter.
Obviously, they had no intention of stopping it, as it still continued and it does to this very day. At this time it became clear to me that these crimes would never be stopped by these district officials. Prior to my complaint, Mr. Howard Potter had complained about these same Federal Felony crimes to district personnel and personally told me “McGee and Findling have stonewalled me, there’s nothing more I can do.”
This case is extremely complex and detailed, as it involves copyright law. It has been an ongoing battle for 7 months as district personnel sought to stifle me, and there is a large amount of detailed information involved. I have clear cut and irrefutable evidence in the form of physical evidence, witnesses, and a detailed log which I have kept throughout, of thousands of violations of the following crime committed by R.O.P. employee Jim Hall:
U.S.C. Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 506(a)(1) – Criminal Infringement
If one were to research this particular statute, they would find that simply one instance of this violation is subject to a penalty of three (3) years in Federal prison, and a $300,000 fine. That would be an indication of the severity of these crimes. I can prove not simply one instance, but thousands of instances of this crime with my evidence, over a period of 4-5 years, committed by Mr. Hall. I believe that these crimes were committed for profit, which enhances the penalties beyond those of which I described. I can also demonstrate that several district officials have been aware of this monstrous violation of Federal law for a period of at least 2 years, and have not only attempted to hide the violations, but have encouraged them for mysterious reasons. Additionally, I was not the first employee to report these crimes to district personnel. I know that my previous supervisor, Howard Potter reported these crimes to Ms. McGee and Mr. Findling, another district official, approximately two years prior to my reporting of it on March 31, 2003. He complained to me that he had been “stonewalled” on the issue by those two district officials, and ceased pursuing it. At the time, I did not grasp the gravity of the crimes, nor was I certain at that time that the crimes had occurred, and just blissfully ignored the affair. I now painfully see the truth in the axiom “All that evil needs to flourish is for a few good men to turn their heads”.
I have also observed Joe Flores assisting in the commission of these crimes. He was a “volunteer” for approximately 3 years, “hanging” around at the whim of Mr. Hall. Mr. Hall encouraged this, I believe, so that he could be free to do whatever he pleased, rather than teach the class as he is paid to do. And this is exactly what Mr. Hall did, surf the internet, etc. Mr. Flores usually took roll, intimidated the students with long abusive speeches going nowhere and the like. Mr. Flores has no experience in the video field, apart from his continued appearance at the Media Center, and is hated universally by the students of the program. I do not exaggerate in my use of either of the words “universally” or “hated”. While I do not believe that a teacher must be liked to be an asset, I do believe that if they are universally GREATLY disliked, as this gentleman is, something is very wrong. Particularly if they have no experience in the field they are teaching to offer them. For some strange reason, Mr. Flores feels compelled to constantly intimidate the students, and this is one of the reasons for his extreme unpopularity. Additionally, I personally find it very suspicious that a grown man, with no apparent source of income, could find the time to “volunteer” for free at a school district for a period of three years. While not damning in and of itself, considering the nature of the crimes involved, and my observations of his assistance in the commission of them, I believe that a reasonable person must find this questionable.
Mr. Howard Potter, the founder of the program, and Director of the Media Center until September of 2002, repeatedly threw Mr. Flores out of the Media Center for his mistreatment of the students, telling him in my presence on the last occurrence, that he was not to ever again enter the building, as long as Mr. Potter was still around. Mr. Flores did not, until the very first day that Mr. Potter was gone. He has never left since then.
I informed Ms. McGee of a recent incident involving Mr. Flores forcing the students to pay $15-20 for t-shirts using extreme strong-arm tactics, a purchase they were not informed they would have to make at the beginning of the semester. I personally observed Mr. Flores call upon the students, one by one, immediately after roll call for the class, and demand that they pay for these shirts, in front of the entire class, in “deadbeat bill collector” fashion. The scenario went thusly, an excerpt from my personal log:
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3/26/03
Joe Flores called on students in all three classes, one by one, to find out when they would have money for their shirts. These are the shirts that either he or Jim Hall decided they wanted the students to get. At no time were the students given a choice as to whether they wanted a shirt. When some students stated that they were unable to come up with the money for the shirt, Flores stated in a loud, authorative tone, "Now, we've already ordered the shirts. Do you know what that means? That means that Mr. Hall & I are out $90 for these shirts. That makes me very unhappy." He told another class $200 rather than $90. Same speech otherwise. Several students intimated to me in private that they could not afford the shirts, and that they did not feel it was fair to be forced to pay for something that they were not told about in advance. ___________, __________ and are 2 that I recall. ______ also told me that he was given absolutely no choice, and was told the purchase was "mandatory".
(Note: the names of the students above have intentionally been removed to protect them from retaliation, I DO have the names)
3/27/03
I personally had a conversation with Mr. Flores on this issue:
Johnson: "Let me ask you something Joe."
Flores: "What's that?"
Johnson: "Don't you think it's outrageous to require these kids to purchase those t-shirts against their will, without notifying them that they would be required to make purchases like that in the beginning of the semester?"
Flores: "Well, I asked them if they wanted t-shirts and they all said yes."
Johnson: "You asked ALL of them?"
Flores: "Yes."
I walked off shaking my head, end of conversation. I knew from my conversations with the students that this was a lie.
3/28/03
Today, immediately after roll call, I observed Mr. Flores call on the students who had not paid their shirt money. One by one in front of the whole class.
A typical exchange went thusly:
Flores: "So & so, do you have your shirt money?" (tone of voice rising in intensity)
Student: "no, Mr. Flores."
Flores: "Well, why not?" (loud, demanding tone)
variation 1:
Student: ...(after some pause, obviously very embarrassed)..."I told you the other day Mr. Flores." (a staccato, hateful response)
Flores: "OK. We'll give you until Monday. Then you MUST have it in. Do you understand?" (extremely loud demanding tone)
Student: A very distraught "Yes."
variation 2:
Student: ...(after some pause)..."I'll tell you later." (quietly, embarrassed)
Flores: "See me before class is over. Alright?" (extremely loud demanding tone)
Student: A very distraught "Yes."
I wasn't privy to the "later" conversation if it occurred.
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Ms. McGee was apprised of this outrage on March 31, 2003. It was followed by the most amateurish, and revealing attempt to hush it up, yet another outrageous lie that can be easily refuted. Additionally, I believe that this fumbling cover-up was a serious crime.
In spite of all of this, I observed Mr. Flores on the Odyssey channel approximately two weeks ago, wearing one of those very t-shirts with the word “Instructor” emblazoned upon it, and he personally identified himself as the instructor of the class. Apparently none of this concerns Ms. McGee.
One of the key problems involved for me personally is that I have been “locked out” from my job. I absolutely cannot work in my position, first and foremost in my mind due to a very real fear of physical retaliation, which I can demonstrate, but from another legal standpoint as well. Were I to return to my work area I would be in violation of the following statutes of United States Federal Law:
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 4 – Misprision of felony
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 3 – Accessory After the fact
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 2 – Aiding and Abetting
I do not wish to go to Federal prison myself, therefore I cannot enter my work area. It is my contention that by their actions, and inactions, district personnel have caused my work area to be unsafe to me, and also unlawful for me to enter. I also do not wish to ever be involved in any sort of thievery, which is what this case is all about. By simply placing my foot inside the door, I would be in violation of the above statutes, and I would be assisting in an abominable action of theft of major proportions. I have informed Ms. McGee, Mr. Findling and Mr. Richard Moore of this repeatedly on many occasions, and their reaction was to ignore my statements in every instance. These crimes are ongoing to this day. I am, needless to say, utterly flabbergasted and astounded by the whole affair. I feel that the district personnel have created my dilemma by their inaction, and possibly are guilty of crimes as well.
My personal motivation for bringing these crimes to light, besides upholding my responsibility as a U.S. citizen, are other crimes and abuses committed by Mr. Hall. These include falsification of class roll records to increase ADA, and abuse of children in the Odyssey class. These trespasses are easily proven, should the district decide to do so. I informed an investigator, supposedly assigned by the district to investigate these charges, of everything in this communication in May of 2003. He conducted a sham investigation and I can easily prove that it was tainted as well. At no time did he attempt to investigate any of these charges, although he repeatedly told me that it was his intent to do so. I believe his sole purpose was to try and find something that could be used against me, but, unremarkably to me, to no avail. His name is Mr. Michael DeFillippo, and he intimated to me that he was “a long-time acquaintance” of Mr. Findling, which I believe may be very telling in this case.
The district personnel have been very demanding, which I can also demonstrate, that I MUST return to my work area. I believe that they acted so strongly in their desire to have me to do this so that I could be accused of being a willing accessory to the crimes being committed there, even to this very day. At that time they would simply point out that I would be guilty of:
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 4 – Misprision of felony
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 3 – Accessory After the fact
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 2 – Aiding and Abetting
And who knows what else, possibly succeeding in their attempt to hide this whole affair.
I am not a lawyer, but I do have a reasonable comprehension of English, and the violations of:
U.S.C. Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 506(a)(1) – Criminal Infringement
committed by Mr. Hall are quite clear. I am quite certain that these violations occurred, as I viewed them with my own eyes, and I am also certain that my proof is irrefutable. As further proof of this, I point out that at no time have the district personnel, in their zeal to “circle the wagons” around the perpetrators of these crimes, addressed my accusations and provided any sort of proof to the contrary. Instead they have sought to “solve the problem” by harassing me, stalling me with a bogus investigation intentionally planned to find nothing and buy time, and unlawfully depriving me of my income. In spite of my impeccable work record, I have received the classic “whistle-blower” treatment, simply for doing what I was required by:
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 4 – Misprision of felony
That is, reporting a crime to those that are charged with protecting the children of the district from such atrocities.
Their goal, which is obvious to me, and I believe will be to any other interested parties, was to cause me to become destitute, and force me to reenter a work area where this Federal felony activity has continued without pause. Their motivation is unknown to me, but I personally find it suspicious beyond all reasonable explanation.
The children enrolled in this class are treated as cattle, as simply a “cover” to give the impression that there is some value to the school district from this program, so that these profitable crimes can continue. In recent years the students have received ZERO training in the class, except for a very small amount from me. They are given a couple of silly projects per semester that amount to nothing, and spend the great majority of their time either sitting in groups conversing, or receiving abuse from Mr. Hall or Mr. Flores. Mr. Hall disguises this with a pattern that he has used very successfully over the years. He starts out by giving very poor grades, particularly to students he would just as soon get rid of, that is, those that do not show proper adoration of him, at the beginning of the semester. Many of the students drop out at this time. Then by the end of the semester, he gives good grades to nearly all of them. It works because no one complains as long as they get a good grade and 10 credits. And they also have a great sense of relief, after receiving the poorer grades to begin with. This man is full of mischief.
I was fortunate enough to be a major part of the team that built the Odyssey program from the ground up. The original director, Mr. Potter, and I discussed on several occasions the concept that I take the job of teaching the class, and by mutual consensus between us, it was always decided that both the Media Center and myself were better off with me remaining in the role which I have held throughout. I have never regretted these decisions, except upon the last occurrence when this mischievous gentleman, Mr. Hall was hired in as the teacher. It was a very good program prior to this criminal activity, and I have watched it go from a first-class operation to this current abomination. The contrast is startling. The children are abused by the primary principle in this case, and his actions are covered up by district personnel, primarily Ms. McGee, if there are any complaints. I have irrefutable proof of this as well.
I am certain that if I were to contact the parties that were wronged by these criminal acts, they would be very angry, and there would be no problem in getting the appropriate authorities to act. However, were I to do this, the school district would undoubtedly be in jeopardy of civil litigation from those parties in ownership of these intellectual properties that were stolen to the tune of countless dollars, undoubtedly many millions. The end result of this would be detrimental to the students of the district, a scenario I had wished to avoid, if possible.
For that reason, I tried to work with the district personnel, simply asking that the perpetrator of these crimes be terminated, so that he would be removed from the children and me, and he would no longer be capable of his evil work. They have had seven months to do that. Instead, they chose to unlawfully deprive me of my income and harass me for bringing it up at all, and pretend that the issue did not exist. And they have supported Mr. Hall and allowed him to continue stealing other people’s property under the color of the district to this very day.
Meanwhile, I tried to do the right thing, and I now have only the income I can scrape together doing odd jobs, because I refused to jeopardize my safety and my freedom by working in a work area where Federal Felony criminal activity is not only condoned, but encouraged. Not only the right thing, but exactly what I am required to do under the following statute of the United States, a nation of laws:
U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 4 – Misprision of felony
Which states, quite clearly:
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony
cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not
as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other
person in civil or military authority under the United States,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three
years, or both.
I have personally been wronged by the actions and inactions of the district personnel, as has my family, due to extreme financial hardship and constant threats pertaining to my employment, simply because I have done what I was directed to do by the laws of the United States, of which I am a citizen.
Because of the attempted cover up and harassment, I no longer feel that simply terminating Mr. Hall is sufficient to protect the children of the district from the evil that encompasses this entire affair. I cannot believe that the parents of the district wish for their children to be taught that stealing is acceptable, as long as it can be hidden.
I am astonished that Dr. Marks, who has never spoken to me, and would not be able to recognize me in person, has added her voice to the cacophony of the other district personnel in harassing me, rather than making any attempt at understanding the issues. I am very disappointed in the fact that, even now, seven months since I have brought forth these charges, not one of the four district officials, nor the “investigator”, who have all been informed by me personally of these Felony Federal crimes committed under color of the school district and on school district premises, have asked to view any of the evidence that I have in my possession. Not once. This would include Mr. Findling, Ms. McGee, Mr. Moore, Mr. Lundeen and Mr. DeFillippo. And at this juncture, Dr. Marks threatens to recommend my termination, stating “job abandonment” as the reason, without one single question about the Felony Federal crimes committed under her reign as superintendent. Are these officials not charged with protecting the school district from this very sort of thing? Certainly, this is all extremely suspicious.
It is equally curious that I would receive this communication from Dr. Marks, rather than my immediate supervisor, Ms. McGee. It would appear to me that this was done in an attempt to intimidate me with Dr. Marks’ title and position. If the night janitor at Microsoft doesn’t show up at his job, does Bill Gates take on the responsibility of threatening him with termination? This is yet one more of the many interesting aspects of this case.
I implore Dr. Marks to do her duty as a United States citizen AND head of the school district and demand a REAL investigation, by the appropriate law enforcement personnel this time, that is, the FBI, to purge the district of these evildoers. Unfortunately, the district has demonstrated that an internal investigation cannot be trusted. And I encourage the school board to do the same. As I explained to Ms. McGee and Mr. Findling very early on in this affair, I do not intend to be thwarted in exposing the TRUTH in this matter, even at the expense of great personal sacrifice, which I have demonstrated. Surely, all would agree that the school district has an interest in TRUTH. Then let us get on with it. I am quite ready and eager to prove everything in this communication and more to persons interested in TRUTH and honesty. I am absolutely certain that the district officials do not share my enthusiasm.
Additionally, I encourage all interested parties to examine the relationships involved with the financial sponsors of the program. It is my firm belief that the true evil stems from that very source, and that some of them may also be involved in these crimes.
Sincerely,
Michael Johnson
c: Mr. Greg Lundeen
Mr. Bob Findling
Mr. Richard Moore
Ms. Gloria McGee
Ms. Joan Harvell
Mr. Lacy Gillespie
Mr. Dale Hahs