More Allegations That Former Willcox Teacher Violated Probation

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

A former substitute teacher may be headed to prison next month following additional allegations that he violated probation after pleading guilty in October 2018 to luring a minor for sexual exploitation and furnishing obscene materials to a minor.

Jermaine Courtney Waddy has been ordered to attend a revocation hearing Feb. 10 and 11 to address allegations that he committed 14 probation violations from August 2019 to September 2020. The hearing could end with Waddy being reinstated to probation or being sentenced to prison on his original guilty pleas.

Waddy, 31, worked for the Willcox School District when he came under investigation in early 2018 for sexual misconduct involving a student. He later avoided a prison sentence when a Cochise County judge imposed a five-year probation term and ordered Waddy to register as a sex offender.

Court records show Waddy was permitted to serve his probation in Texas provided he comply with various court and probation orders -which included no social media activity- and remain out of the Willcox area. However, he was taken into custody in Texas in August 2020 after Judge Laura Cardinal issued a bench warrant based on allegations Waddy failed to complete a sex-offender program and violated several other probation rules.

Waddy was extradited to the Cochise County jail a few weeks later. At the time, Cardinal seemed inclined to reinstate Waddy to probation and she even allowed him to post a $10,000 bond so he could return to Texas while awaiting resolution of the matter.

Then in October, probation officials reported further allegations to Cardinal. The judge was also advised in December that the Texas probation department was no longer overseeing Waddy due to his prior violations.

Cardinal ordered a second warrant, this one with a no-bond restriction, which resulted in Waddy being booked back into the Cochise County jail on Dec. 10. He must remain there at least until the revocation hearing is complete.

Waddy admitted in 2018 to sending a student a video which showed Waddy masturbating and to soliciting sexual conduct with a student he knew was a minor. Prior to sentencing, the Cochise County Adult Probation Department advocated for a term of imprisonment followed by supervised probation.

Instead, the judge assigned to the case at the time opted to give Waddy a second chance, hoping treatment and supervision would be beneficial.

If Cardinal reinstates Waddy to probation next month there is no guarantee that Texas officials will agree to do the supervision.