Desoto County Teacher, Sex With Student, Assistant Band Directo...

Several days after being accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student, 22-year-old Desoto Central Teacher Tyler Bigham still isn't responding to our knocks on his door to talk about his case, but his neighbors are talking.

[disappointed]

Not guilty plea? Gutsy.

[HE WAS MY BAND TEACHER]

HE WAS MY BAND TEACHER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG BUT I THOUGHT HE WAS DIFFERENT....

[mimi]

she should be arrested also ,he didnt rape her, she wanted it also,girls that age are wanting sex

[mimi]

what he did was wrong sure, but what about her, she new better

[Tom]

Its brutal ,no parents can suffer this !

[formerteacher]

This was so very wrong, but Tyler is a very good kid. I taught him once. He just made a very bad decision. The sad thing is the girl will never get in trouble. She is just as guilty. If he were just some guy on the street, nothing would have been done about it. I really hope this will not ruin his life. Maybe probation, but I cannot see this young man spending time in jail. I really hope the best for him. He has a wonderful mother who has taught, and a brother who is a doctor. Very nice family. He, like so many young adults these days, made a very bad decision. I pray for him and his family.

[Hypntick]

Yeah I agree, the girl should face charges as well in this case. She knew full well what she was doing, 17 year olds aren't little kids anymore. The jackass quoted in the article that said "oh I have a little girl too" probably has a 5 year old, sorry a 22 year old sleeping with a 17 year old is a lot different than a 22 year old trying to rape a 5 year old. There was no rape involved in this case at all, although the term 'sexual battery' sounds a lot like rape or physical abuse of some sort. The name of the charge could be worded a lot better.

[Cat]

Well yes I think that he should not get so close to a student but what does it say about the student. And I believe both should be suspended and that be it. They both knew what they were doing.

[Jimmy]

He could have just given the girl a ride to or from school. You don't know. In this country all people charged are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This guy is already being strung up by the Man in the Street, thanks to the local news. EVEN IF HE DID have a relationship with the girl, she's 17 and he's 22 - that doesn't neccesarily make him a "dirty old man" if she was willing. Folks are making too big a deal about this, in my humble opinion.

[kitty]

when i first saw the title of this story, i imagined a much older authority figure involved with a much younger girl. but he's 22 and she's 17? i'm having a bit of trouble viewing this man as a "sexual predator" with those stats. this isn't to say that he shouldn't be punished for what he did. as a teacher, he is in a position of authority and he abused it. how could he not know that there'd be consequences for such actions? he is guilty of a gross error in judgement and should, perhaps, lose his job. but he certainly should not, particularly if this is a first offense, be burdened with a label that can destroy any chance of a respectable and honest career. i kind of understand the ire of mr forster who worries about this man being around youngsters, but i also understand extreme reactions and i think that's what mr foster is having. nothing in this story suggests that tyler bigham is known to stalk little children or that there was any force involved. and, like it or not, the young lady in question is hardly a child. i hope there will be some leniency in this case for both parties.

[LULU211]

though I agree she shouldn't have been messing around with a teacher, what exactly do you think she should be charged with, she has committed absolutely no crime. The only reason his is a crime is bc he violated the oath he took as a teacher, and regardless of how nice of a guy he is, he knew what was at stake when he put himself in that position.

[thinkbeforeyouty pe]

Tom wrote:

,no parents can suffer this !

Its brutal Suffer this?Are you kidding me? You need to relax pal and put the bible down. Try and take a breath to clear your head ( like that's possible)

[JustMe]

first off, id like to say im a graduate from Desoto Central, and i was in the band program while Bigham was there. As tough as this is to say, i never saw it coming, for the months that he was my teacher i never saw it coming. None of yall know HIM OR the girl and i just wish people would keep their mouth shut about it especially if yall dont know them. I wont say a word about what happend because quite frankly its a touchy subject for me and im sorry it had to happen with my band family and instead of pushing them down we should be lifting them up, because its not easy..not only did they loose a good teacher and friend, but a fellow member of their family as well. They both were in the wrong and i just hope justice is served to both of them because that program doesnt need people like that in there anyway.

[parent]

Good for Tyler for hiring Steve Fareese. The 17 year old should have her name posted on the news as well. 17 & 22, that is normal dating age. So what if he is a teacher, He has an education with a stable job. Isn't that what parents want for their children? To everyone reading this how much older is your spouse? He is NOT a sexual offender & should not be labeled as such...Who is to say they were not dating before he became a teacher? I am a mother of 4. 2 girls & 2 boys. I know where my children are at all times. Did her parents know where she was at? Do we need to blame him, her or their parents for not teaching them morals & value to save it ALL for marriage? Good Luck to you Tyler!

[desotogirl]

parent wrote:

Good for Tyler for hiring Steve Fareese. The 17 year old should have her name posted on the news as well. 17 & 22, that is normal dating age. So what if he is a teacher, He has an education with a stable job. Isn't that what parents want for their children? To everyone reading this how much older is your spouse? He is NOT a sexual offender & should not be labeled as such...Who is to say they were not dating before he became a teacher? I am a mother of 4. 2 girls & 2 boys. I know where my children are at all times. Did her parents know where she was at? Do we need to blame him, her or their parents for not teaching them morals & value to save it ALL for marriage? Good Luck to you Tyler!

Okay Parent ~ So you have two girls and two boys huh? Teacher crushes are normal, lots of kids have 'em, you know, the hot teacher, etc..., well what one of your kids develops a crush on a certain teacher, do you think it will be okay if that teacher takes advantage of that and pursues a sexual relationship with them . I for one want to know that the teachers that are in place in my childs school can take the temptation of crushes and apply all that they learned the last couple of years in college regarding inappropriate relationships with students!!! Good grief people!!!

[Lynne]

Why shouldn't he be charged. She is still considered a minor. If he had committed this act with my daugher you better damn well believe I'd want him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I imagine any loving parent would want the same.

I'm amazed that this twenty-two year old band teacher is able to afford Steve Farese.

We knew someone who attempted to hire Mr. Farese, but he required $15,000.00. Needless to say they went with someone else.

I agree that the seventeen year old should've known better, but he is the adult. It was up to HIM to stop this from happening.

[just moi]

I feel badly for his family. Do I think he should be labeled a sex offender at this point? no. Should he be allowed to work at DeSoto County Schools, no. There is a certain standard teachers must achieve, and he didn't achieve it. I pray he learns from his mistakes, and I pray for his family also.

[makes me sad]

This man did commit an act of poor judgement, but sexual battery? Come on. I think most of the women out there remember being 17. Didn't you date someone older than 18 at some point. Well, if so according to our law you were a victim of rape. The fact that he is a teacher means he should not have broken the RULES at his job and dated her but throwing this man in jail? Please! To label someone like him a sexual predator takes the major stigma away from that label. A sexual predator label should be reserved for those deviants who commit violent crimes or crimes against children. I don't know the girl involved but my guess is she is no child and no victim.

[unknown]

you might think you know where your kids are at all times wrong they will find a time and place at there age to do wrong things i thought that to until mine came up pregnant and where at school of all places 17 and 22 is not rape for him her parents need to check her out to

[friend]

I grew up with Tyler. He is absolutely harmless and I am horrified that the news has stamped him like they have. I can't believe that a man like this was sitting in jail with his picture posted all over the news. Never in my wildest dreams did I see this coming for this good young man. His dream was to teach music, that was his love. That is all he ever wanted and it is what he worked so hard for. And even though he did make this mistake, I want him to know that his friends still care about him and we are here. Tyler has a wonderful family and I want to send my prayers out to them as the rest of the our judgmental society should. People make mistakes everyday and unfortunately his was inexcusable, but I know in my heart that he does not deserve the so-called "rapist" or "sex offender" stamp. My prayers and thoughts go out to both families who have been humiliated by society and our news.