1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
.' 2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON
3
4
5 In the Matter of the | '
6 Teaching License of | DEFAULT ORDER
7 THOMAS ROBERT BECKER l OF REVOCATION
8 |
9
10
11 On March 19, 2002, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission issued a Notice
12 of Opportunity for Hearing to Adrienne Nelson, Attorney for Thomas Robert Becker, in
13 which the Commission proposed to suspend or revoke the teaching license of Thomas Robert
14 Becker or otherwise impose discipline under ORS 342.177. The notice was sent via U.S.
15 First Class Mail to the law offices of Bennett, Hartman, Morris & Kaplan. Adrienne Nelson
16 did not request a hearing on behalf her client.
17
18 The Notice of Opportunity for Hearing, signed by David V. Myton, Executive
19 Director, stated:
. 20 If a request for hearing is not received within this 21-day period, your right to
21 hearing shall be considered waived unless your failure to request a hearing was
22 beyond your reasonable control. If you do no request a healing or if you fail to
23 appear at a hearing, the Commission will adopt an Order of Default which may
24 include the revocation or suspension of your license or other discipline.
25
26 Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds Thomas Robert Becker in default and
27 such default is hereby entered. Based on the records and files of the Commission, the
28 Commission enters the following findings of fact and order.
29
30 FINDINGS 0F FACT
3 1
32 l. Thomas Robert Becker holds a Standard Teacher License with an endorsement
33 in Standard Elementary valid through February 3, 2004.
PAGE I - DEFAULT ORDER—THOMAS ROBERT BECKER

l
' 1 2. Thomas Robert Becker was employed as an elementary teacher in the Tigard-
2 Tualatin School District from September 1985 until his resignation effective December 21,
3 2000.
4 3. During the 2000-2001 academic year, Becker was using a personal computer in
5 his home to solicit sex over the Internet from what he believed to be minor boys. Becker’s
6 communications attracted the attention of the Illinois State Attorney’s Office, Internet
7 Crime Unit.
8 4. On or about August 23, 2000, Will County Circuit Court, Joliett, Illinois, records
9 indicate that Becker was Indicted by a Grand Jury on three charges of Indecent Solicitation
10 of a Child (Class C Felony). Becker was subsequently arrested by Joliett, Illinois police
11 officers at his home in Tigard, Oregon, and extradited to Joliett, Illinois for prosecution.
12 5. On January 11, 2002, Becker was convicted of the Class C felony crime of
13 Indecent Solicitation of a Child/Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse in Will County Circuit
14 Court, Will County, Illinois. Becker was sentenced to six months in custody, 30 months
15 probation with conditions, and is required to register as a sex offender in Illinois.
. 16
17 CONCLUSIONS 0F LAW
1 8
19 Conviction of a crime constitutes Gross Unfitness pursuant to OAR 584-020-0040(5)(c).
20 Becker’s conviction of a Class C felony crime of Indecent Solicitation of a
21 Child/Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse in Will County Circuit Court, Will County,
22 Illinois, constitutes Gross Unfitness. The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in
23 this matter is based upon ORS 342.175(1)(a) and (c).
O
PAGE 2 - DEFAULT ORDER-THOMAS ROBERT BECKER

1
. 2 ORDER
3 The Commission revokes the Oregon Standard Teaching License #251351 issued to
4 Thomas Robert Becker.
5
. s4-
6 Dated this 9. l day of May 2002.
7
8
9 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION
10
11 ,
12 By é W W
13 Linda Samek, Deputy Director
14
1 5
16 NOTICE 0F APPEAL 0R RIGHTS
17
18 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICAL
19 REVIEW MAY BE OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 6O
20 DAYS FROM THE SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT
. 21 TO THE PROVISIONS OF ORS 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.
22
23
24 CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
25
26 I hereby certify that I served the foregoing order by mailing a true copy thereof
27 certified by me as such by regular U.S. First Class Mail and by U.S. Certified Mail-Return
28 Receipt Requested to:
29
30 Thomas Robert Becker
31 512 NE Simpson
32 Portland OR 9721 1
33
34 "7 k
35 Dated this 0t / day of May 2002.
36
37
38
39 By:
40 Mel dy Han n
41 Exe tive A ist t to the Commission
PAGE 3 - DEFAULT ORDER-THOMAS ROBERT BECKER