Former Willcox Teacher Accused Of Violating Probation In Student Sex Case

Jermaine Courtney Waddy [Photo courtesy Cochise County Sheriff’s Office]

A former Willcox High School substitute teacher sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in 2018 to luring a minor for sexual exploitation and furnishing obscene materials to a minor has been accused of failing to complete a sex-offender program, possession of pornography, and possession of an iPad in violations of the terms of his probation.

Jermaine Courtney Waddy was permitted to serve his probation in Texas, subject to court orders that he close all social media accounts, register as a sex offender throughout his lifetime, and remain out of the Willcox area. But he was taken into custody Aug. 31 in Fort Bend County, Texas after a bench warrant was issued in Arizona following a petition to revoke probation.

Waddy, 31, was transferred to the Cochise County jail Sept. 20. He took part in a video initial appearance the next day with Judge James Conlogue, who ordered Waddy held without bond pending formal arraignment on Sept. 25.

Court records show Waddy was sentenced by Judge Wallace Hoggatt in December 2018 to sex-offender probation after he admitted sending a student a video which showed Waddy masturbating. He also admitted soliciting sexual conduct with a student Waddy knew was a minor.

Waddy’s term of probation was to last five years, but court records show he has racked up a string of alleged violations. In 2019, he was accused of possessing a firearm and illegal narcotics on two occasions and videos which showed two minor boys (apparently not in a sexual manner).

In May and June 2020, Waddy is accused of possessing pornography on multiple occasions. He also had access to an iPad, which his attorney claims belonged to Waddy’s girlfriend who left it in his car. Then in July, Waddy was discharged from sex offender treatment without completing the program successfully.

Waddy came under investigation by the Willcox Department of Public Safety in early 2018 after several students received or viewed sexually explicit images involving Waddy. A Willcox police officer then used a social media account belonging to a female student to converse with Waddy in a sexual manner.

The probation sentence given to Waddy was not without controversy at the time. Public records show the Cochise County Adult Probation Department urged Hoggatt to order Waddy imprisoned for the luring charge and then have him serve a period of supervised probation.

“Given the serious nature of the offense, the number of victims, and that the defendant violated a position of trust, it would appear a term in the Arizona Department of Corrections is warranted and appropriate,” the probation report stated.

Instead, Waddy requested leniency, arguing his recent behavior with the students represented “a shocking departure from my ordinary character.” He also expressed remorse for his actions and noted he cooperated with investigators and the prosecutor to ensure no victims had to testify.

Hoggatt stated he elected the probation option after much consideration, although he ordered several restrictions on Waddy’s activities, including no contact with the victims or their families, no dating anyone who has minor children, and no employment in which he’ll have contact with minors unless preapproved by his probation officer.

But the judge also sternly warned Waddy that any violation of probation or lifetime sex offender registration could result in revocation and resentencing on one or both of the charges. That is what Conlogue will address in the next few months.

Court records show the presumptive prison term is 3.5- years for the luring charge and 2.5-years for the illicit video. It remains unclear whether any of Waddy’s recent activities could result in new criminal charges.