OXNARD, Calif. — The dismissal case of Stacie Halas, the Haydock Intermediate School teacher put on administrative leave after being exposed as a former porn star, began Monday afternoon at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
A panel of administrative judges, led by Judge Julie Cabos-Owen, heard opposing arguments from Halas' attorney Richard Schwab and two Oxnard Elementary School District lawyers, reported VCStar.com.
"Your job is not to judge what she was in her past but what she is today," Schwab told the panel. "And what she is today, the evidence will show, is a very fit and a very caring teacher."
Halas' pornographic past first came to light in March when students at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School discovered a string of online porn videos featuring the attractive 32-year-old performing as adult star Tiffany Six.
After much deliberation, the Oxnard School District voted to fire Halas on April 18. Halas filed an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearing and was put on paid leave.
Schwab told the panel on Monday that Halas had not starred in any adult videos while employed as an educator, and that she only worked in porn for eight months between the years 2005 and 2006 to make ends meet.
However, in a behind-the-scenes interview included in the 2006 Jules Jordan Video "No Cum Dodging Allowed 7," Halas admits that doing porn is "very risky for me cause I am a teacher."
The movie could very well pop up as evidence against Halas as Judge Cabos-Owen is allowing videos starring Halas to be submitted as evidence.
"This case is about whether the students of the Oxnard School District are required to incorporate into their learning environment the choice Ms. Halas made to be a porn star," Oxnard School District lawyer Nitasha Sawhney said.
Today's hearing included testimony from five Haydock Intermediate School students, who each explained how easy it was to find Halas' X-rated movies online. More witnesses for the district are expected to testify on Tuesday.
A decision on Halas' appeal could take as long as three months.
Photo: Anthony Plascencia, Ventura County Star
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