One of two teachers charged in teen group sex case had troubled past

One of two teachers arrested this week on allegations of having sex with a 16-year-old Basic High School student was previously investigated and suspended for having an inappropriate relationship with a freshman girl, a Henderson police report released Tuesday said.

John Stalmach, who taught at the Henderson high school during the 2009-10 school year, was placed on leave by the Clark County School District in October 2009 after being accused of texting the freshman and showing her pornographic images.

A school police investigation produced no evidence of a crime, but in May 2010, Stalmach was issued a 20-day suspension and forced to transfer to a different school, the report said.

District spokeswoman Amanda Fulkerson confirmed the suspension and transfer were "based on evidence at the time." Fulkerson said she is legally prohibited from revealing details of that evidence. Because no criminal charges were filed, the district could only suspend him, and Stalmach was given the maximum penalty, Fulkerson said.

Stalmach, 31, a physical education teacher at Dailey Elementary School in Las Vegas, was arrested on campus Monday on new allegations that he and his ex-girlfriend, teacher Bambi Dewey, 32, had sex with a 16-year-old girl at the home the teachers shared in Henderson on Dec. 21.

Dewey was arrested Monday at Brown Junior High School in Henderson, where she taught English.

During the police investigation, both Stalmach and the teenager admitted to having three-way sex with Dewey, the report said, but Dewey denied the allegations.

"The three of them were drinking shots of Crown whiskey and 'chasing it' with juice," the teenager told detectives. "She couldn't remember how things got started but they ended up in the bedroom upstairs."

Stalmach and the teen also told detectives they had sex once without Dewey present. The heavily redacted report said that encounter occurred in January.

During the interview, the teenager referred to Stalmach as "coach" and Dewey as "Ms. Dewey."

Although she initially denied the sexual relationship with the teachers, the teen later admitted she was embarrassed and was concerned about what her parents would think.

She told police she met the two at Brown, where Dewey taught the girl in seventh grade and Stalmach coached sports and taught eighth grade. Stalmach was most recently a baseball coach at Basic, the report said.

The girl was a cheerleader at the junior high school. She told detectives she spent a lot of time with Dewey and Stalmach and that her mom knew the two through school activities. She would hang out at the teachers' home and watch Dewey's children, the report said.

She admitted to detectives she smoked marijuana with Stalmach four times and twice with Dewey.

Stalmach and Dewey are now suspended without pay. The school system will move to dismiss the teachers if they are convicted, Fulkerson said.

They were each charged with solicitation of a minor for sex, and Stalmach was also booked on a charge of sexual conduct between a teacher and a student. All of the charges are felonies. Both were released on bail Tuesday.

A criminal investigation began on Aug. 14 when Dewey's ex-husband, Steven Baca, alerted police that Dewey and Stalmach might be involved in a sexual relationship with two high school girls.

Dewey's sister, Robin Dewey, reportedly had told Baca she suspected that her sister and Stalmach were having a sexual relationship with a high school girl.

In tears, Robin Dewey told investigators she witnessed inappropriate activity by her sister and Stalmach three times. She said the two allowed two minors to drink at their home in fall 2010 and also on New Year's Eve in 2011 and 2012.

Robin Dewey also reported that her sister told her she broke up with Stalmach after he cheated on her with the teenager. She said Bambi Dewey admitted to the three-way sex but took no responsibility for her actions.

"Robin explained she felt bad for speaking against her own sister but could not let the children be subjected to this behavior."

A juvenile witness whose name was redacted in the report also told police that Bambi Dewey told her about the sexual relationship. She also said Dewey felt betrayed when Stalmach and the teenager had sex behind her back. The witness also referred to Stalmach as "coach" during the interview.

Bambi Dewey told detectives that she and Stalmach dated for four to five years. She said the relationship ended in April, when Stalmach wouldn't marry her.

Dewey denied having sex with the teen or using drugs and alcohol with her.

She said she took two minor girls in and "provided them with a stable environment," the report said.

She said the witnesses against her lied to investigators. She viewed the minor girls as "her own children," the report said.

When detectives visited Stalmach at his school, he initially denied engaging in sexual activity with the teenager and said it was more of a "mentoring" relationship. He later admitted to having group sex with the teenager once, and a second time without Dewey present.

Stalmach said the teen was the aggressor.

He said the teen approached him and Dewey in a joking manner, saying they should all sleep together. He then went upstairs and was "shocked" to discover the teen and Dewey having sex. Stalmach told detectives he does not drink alcohol or smoke marijuana.

Both Dewey and Stalmach worked in Clark County schools for five years.

Principals at Dailey and Brown sent nearly identical letters to students' families on Tuesday informing them of the arrests.

"We wish to assure you that we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement officials," the principals wrote, adding "staff will work hard to minimize any disruption."

The principals also reminded parents to stay connected with their children and watch for unusual behavior.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638. Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.