By Janie Bryant The Virginian-Pilot May 10, 2012 PORTSMOUTH On March 6, Cedric Cradle signed a disclosure statement for a jobhe sought working with mentally ill adults. It asked whether he had criminal convictions or was the subject ofpending charges. He marked "No." But less than three weeks earlier, the former Churchland HighSchool teacher and coach had been found guilty of taking indecentliberties with a 16-year-old female student. Last week, Cradle testified at his sentence hearing about his newjob with LEVOC Family Services in Franklin.
But there was a problem with that statement, too, according toOvelton Malone, an owner of the company. Cradle's job offer had been withdrawn April 12, when a criminalhistory check came back and his legal issues were revealed, Malonesaid this week. Reached by phone, Cradle declined to comment for this story. But onApril 30, at his sentence hearing in Portsmouth Circuit Court, hetestified that he worked in LEVOC's day treatment center formentally challenged adults.
Prosecutor Derek Colvin asked him whether LEVOC primarily treatedchildren. Cradle said no. "They also treat children; do you agree?" Colvin asked,according to a court transcript. "Yes, they do," the former teacher answered.
Colvin also inquired whether the former coach had disclosed thenature of the charges against him with the company. "Yes, sir. I actually know the owner of the business,"Cradle answered. This week, Malone described Cradle as someone he met once at acommunity event. He said Cradle was not friends with the otherbusiness owners but did know one of the company's supervisors.
Malone said Cradle's short time with the company included only ajob orientation, which required him to work with staff supervision. LEVOC is licensed by the state to provide mental health services,including counseling and support for children and teens with"serious behavioral and mental disturbances," accordingto its website. It serves about 67 clients at this time, Malonesaid, and its day treatment center offers support for adults livingwith mental illnesses ranging from depression to post-traumaticstress disorder. Malone said Cradle was initially hired based on his resume andreferences.
The references included another mental health providerand two Portsmouth schools staff members, Malone said, but hedeclined to identify them. Maureen Mizelle, a spokeswoman for Portsmouth Public Schools, saidthere is no policy that would prevent a school employee from actingas a personal reference. She said Cradle resigned from his positionbefore his arrest and it was possible he asked colleagues forletters of recommendation at that point. Meghan McGuire, a spokeswoman for the state Department ofBehavioral Health and Developmental Services, said Cradle's felonyconviction would prohibit him from working with the state-licensedLEVOC program, even if the job did not include working nearchildren.
Les Saltzberg, the department's director of licensing, said itappears that LEVOC did everything correctly. The state allows suchbusinesses to hire individuals while they are waiting for thecriminal background check, but after the signed disclosure form hasbeen received. The Virginian-Pilot obtained a copy of the disclosure form fromLEVOC through a Freedom of Information Act request. On it, Cradlemarked "no" to the question: "Have you ever been convicted of or are you the subject ofpending charges for any offense, including moving trafficviolations..." In addition, LEVOC properly rescinded Cradle's job offer once hiscriminal check was complete, Saltzberg said. Malone said that inthis case, the system worked.
Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Earle C. Mobley said his officeis looking into statements that Cradle made in court. "We are investigating the matter along with the PortsmouthPolice Department," he said. Cradle's case was one of three related to Portsmouth high schoolteachers' involvement with minors in the past year. A jury in February found Cradle guilty of one count of takingindecent liberties with a minor while in a supervisory role.
Last week, a judge imposed the $2,500 fine that the jury hadrecommended. Cradle has maintained his innocence and at hissentence hearing his attorney, Carol Adler, asked the judge to setaside the verdict. He denied her motion. Adler, a public defender, also declined tocomment for this story.
But there was a problem with that statement, too, according toOvelton Malone, an owner of the company. Cradle's job offer had been withdrawn April 12, when a criminalhistory check came back and his legal issues were revealed, Malonesaid this week. Reached by phone, Cradle declined to comment for this story. But onApril 30, at his sentence hearing in Portsmouth Circuit Court, hetestified that he worked in LEVOC's day treatment center formentally challenged adults.
Prosecutor Derek Colvin asked him whether LEVOC primarily treatedchildren. Cradle said no. "They also treat children; do you agree?" Colvin asked,according to a court transcript. "Yes, they do," the former teacher answered.
Colvin also inquired whether the former coach had disclosed thenature of the charges against him with the company. "Yes, sir. I actually know the owner of the business,"Cradle answered. This week, Malone described Cradle as someone he met once at acommunity event. He said Cradle was not friends with the otherbusiness owners but did know one of the company's supervisors.
Malone said Cradle's short time with the company included only ajob orientation, which required him to work with staff supervision. LEVOC is licensed by the state to provide mental health services,including counseling and support for children and teens with"serious behavioral and mental disturbances," accordingto its website. It serves about 67 clients at this time, Malonesaid, and its day treatment center offers support for adults livingwith mental illnesses ranging from depression to post-traumaticstress disorder. Malone said Cradle was initially hired based on his resume andreferences.
The references included another mental health providerand two Portsmouth schools staff members, Malone said, but hedeclined to identify them. Maureen Mizelle, a spokeswoman for Portsmouth Public Schools, saidthere is no policy that would prevent a school employee from actingas a personal reference. She said Cradle resigned from his positionbefore his arrest and it was possible he asked colleagues forletters of recommendation at that point. Meghan McGuire, a spokeswoman for the state Department ofBehavioral Health and Developmental Services, said Cradle's felonyconviction would prohibit him from working with the state-licensedLEVOC program, even if the job did not include working nearchildren.
Les Saltzberg, the department's director of licensing, said itappears that LEVOC did everything correctly. The state allows suchbusinesses to hire individuals while they are waiting for thecriminal background check, but after the signed disclosure form hasbeen received. The Virginian-Pilot obtained a copy of the disclosure form fromLEVOC through a Freedom of Information Act request. On it, Cradlemarked "no" to the question: "Have you ever been convicted of or are you the subject ofpending charges for any offense, including moving trafficviolations..." In addition, LEVOC properly rescinded Cradle's job offer once hiscriminal check was complete, Saltzberg said. Malone said that inthis case, the system worked.
Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Earle C. Mobley said his officeis looking into statements that Cradle made in court. "We are investigating the matter along with the PortsmouthPolice Department," he said. Cradle's case was one of three related to Portsmouth high schoolteachers' involvement with minors in the past year. A jury in February found Cradle guilty of one count of takingindecent liberties with a minor while in a supervisory role.
Last week, a judge imposed the $2,500 fine that the jury hadrecommended. Cradle has maintained his innocence and at hissentence hearing his attorney, Carol Adler, asked the judge to setaside the verdict. He denied her motion. Adler, a public defender, also declined tocomment for this story.
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