Most viewed

Mesa man facing numerous charges after chase

Two-seat plane crashes into Mesa restroom

Sex offender who left Mesa returned to U.S.

Man jumps to his death on U.S. 60 in Mesa

Police chase ends with bystander dead

Mom seeks answers in daughter's disappearance

Officer had '02 run-in with killing suspect

Boy, 3, shoots self; in critical condition

Ariz. must get serious about career criminals
Most commented
Most recommended

Yellow

Pages

Search Yellow Pages:

Location:

Get news by e-mail

News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Home » Local News » Gilbert

Gilbert student-teacher arrested on sex charges

Tammy Krikorian, Tribune

January 31, 2007 - 2:42PM

Jeri Deanne Perez

Jeri Deanne Perez, a student teacher at South Valley Junior High School, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Gilbert boy who attended Mesquite High School, police said. Both schools are in the Gilbert Unified School District.

Sexual intercourse and oral sexual contact allegedly occurred on six separate occasions between November and December 2006 at Perez’s residence in the 1800 block of East Milky Way in Gilbert, police said.

Perez was introduced to the boy in connection with her employment at South Valley and was known to the victim’s family, police said.

On Wednesday, South Valley principal Martha Farmer sent a letter home to parents informing them of the arrest.

According to the letter, Perez was a student at Ottawa University. She was assigned as a student teacher and worked as a part-time paraprofessional at South Valley. Perez was also employed at a Walgreens, police said.

“Please be assured that this individual will not be returning to SVJHS or any district placement,” the letter states. “The appropriate fingerprint and background checks were all completed according to district policy.”

Gilbert police said there is no indication that any misconduct occurred at South Valley Junior High School.

According to a police report, the victim made a call to Perez on Tuesday afternoon, and she told him that she would deny any accusations and advised him to do the same.

Perez voluntarily went to the Gilbert Police Department for an interview, where she was arrested. She was being held Wednesday at the Estrella Jail in Phoenix on a $100,000 bond.

Gilbert police are asking anyone with additional information to call (480) 503-6500.

Comments

Oldest First | Newest First | Show Recommended Only

Reader comments: This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author.

Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news:

Stay on topic.
No personal attacks, racial slurs or insults; no vulgar, lewd or threatening comments.
Report abusive comments.

Show archived comments

Reader comments (12)

This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author.

My comment disappeared! What's going on?

View more comments: 1| 2

Will

i went to south valley and saw this teacher around. Also this teachers doughter and victim goes to my school so its just something verry disturbing Suggest removal of this comment

February 1, 2007

confidential

I know all of the people effected by this incident. Jerri, her daughters, and the boy invovled. He's not a bad kid. I'd trust him with my life. I also attend mesquite high. This happening is unfortunate and i was shocked. But i guess things like this happen once in a while. I hope the trial turns out for the best, they are NOT bad people. Suggest removal of this comment

February 2, 2007

mac

i know mrs. perez very well. she was my science student teacher and i liked her alot. I dont know how in the world she could do something like that. I really trusted her and I was all wrong. I am very sad. She just wrecked her whole life because of that. Comment has been reviewed

February 2, 2007

confidential

I have known Jeri for a very long time and I know that she is a very honest, loving and wonderful person, I know she would never hurt anybody, she has a very big heart, she has always gone out of her way to help those in need. I know many people that would say the same of Jeri. I would trust her with my life and the life of my children! Jeri is a good person, and it is very hard to see her go through something like this, and see the things that people are saying about Jeri. The way people are seeing her is so far from the type of person that Jeri is. I can not wait until she has the chance to defend herself against these charges that she is accused of! Suggest removal of this comment

February 6, 2007

confidential

We all need to remember that we are innocent until proven quilty. These are only alleged accusations that have not been proven in the court of law! We have not yet been able to hear from the accused Jeri, but yet in the eyes and words of many she is already guilty.We have only heard one side of this story and that is from the alleged victim. How do we know if the accused is innocent or guilty without hearing both sides of the story and without hearing all of the evidence first? We all need to remember to first let the accused have a chance to defend themself against the accusations they are accused of before we jugde them so harshly! What if this was you or a loved one in this situation, would you not want the chance to defend yourself or your loved one against the alleged accusations, before people just formed a negitive opinion of you and presumed that you where guilty? It has happened before that good people have been accused of things that where false! The sad thing is that even if the accused Jeri is found innocent of all of these alleged accusations her reputation and her life are forever ruined! The media has already splashed her picture, full name, home address, and the places she worked all over the country. Comment has been reviewed

February 6, 2007

GET REAL

Are you kidding me?!! Being judged too harshly! She had a sexual relationships with a CHILD! A 14 year old little boy. There is no way that this woman is innocent and you are a warped individual to insinuate that this victim is not telling the truth. What if the victim were one of your loved ones? People like you are to blame for most rape and sexual assault victims refusing to come forward because they end up being the ones on trial. What about the judgment that you are putting on him? He is a child and this monster "Jeri" ruined not only HIS life but her own children's lives as well. If you know her so well,
then you know she is guilty. The police would not have arrested her if they didn't have the evidence to support this child's story. And as for trusting her
with your children. You better start asking them questions and getting them some help.
Suggest removal of this comment

February 7, 2007

Allie

i think its wrong that she did this. i mean how many teachers or student teachers have done this already in arizona? but i never would of thought it wouldve been in gilbert. im a student at greenfield junior high and i cant believe that some teacher from south valley would do this , i mean its soo sick and wrong. my ex-teacher works there and i cant believe that someone her age would have sexual intercourse with someone HIS age. yeah its wrong, and yeah its disqusting and disturbing. many many many cases like this have happened and to tell u the truth im just really shocked. and confidentual person... well heres the thing, i agree with get real. she ruined her life, his life, and her childrens' life. get over it. she knew the consequeses of her desisons and that is what she got. dont u dare say that it wasnt her fault bc you kno it was. -allie Suggest removal of this comment

February 7, 2007

minty man

i think that its wrong to accuse somebody just because it they said something it could be not true ! I know jeri and i know she didnt do this Comment has been reviewed

February 8, 2007

You need to get real

ok GET REAl read what you wrote in your comment. You need to GET REAL, saying that someone who believe's in the right to a fair trial is the reason to blame for rape victims and sexual assault victims refusing to come forward and that they are warped individuals!! Well I was raped, and I did go through hell for turning in the man who raped me, he even had two men and a women almost beat me to death for turning him in, I was accused of lying myself, and told that it was my fault that it happened to me, and I was put on trial by many, so I DO understand the victims side!!!! I have also had friends on the other side who were accused and arrested for things that they did not do!! So yes I also believe in the right to a fair trial, even after what I went through, does that make me a warped individual??? You are stating things in your comments that were never said. It did not say that the victim was lying, or that the accused is innocent, It said "how do we know for a fact that the accused is guilty or innocent without hearing all of the evidence and both sides of the story"?? It did not say in either way which one they believed to be innocent or guiltly. You on the other hand say that there is no way this women is innocent!!! How do you know for a fact that she is guilty, were you there??? NO, so YOU DO NOT KNOW FOR A FACT that she is guilty!!!! This is why we have trials, because we want to make sure the guilty go to jail, and the innocent go free!! It also stated that the person believe's that everyone deserves a fair trial before being automatically executed by people like you, thank god that you are not a judge because everyone would be automatically guilty, and I hope that you never serve on a jury, you are the type of person that would send an innocent person to prison, because you obviously believe that just because the cops arrest someone there is no possible way that they can be innocent, right??? Because that is what you stated above!!! You obviously do not know much about what kind of evidence the police have to have to arrest somebody!!! So you are saying that everyone who is arrested by the cops is guilty!!!! So why do we even have a court system??? The police should just contact such smart individuals like you, instead of wasting all that time in court, because you would know for a fact that the person was guilty!!! The person that wrote what you are complaining about is being an fair and objective person, who is not assuming who is innocent or guilty without hearing all of the evidence, this is the type of people that they look for to serve on a jury, not someone like you who automatically assumes that someone is guilty "FOR A FACT" just because they were arrested by the police. How are you being real???? We all have the right to our own opinion!! You tore that person apart, just for them being a fair person and believing the right to a fair trial!!! You do not know these people!!! What type of person does that make you, for to think you have the right to say what you did about them, just for them stating their own opinion???? Suggest removal of this comment

February 14, 2007

sherrie

Allie and Get Real,
Yes, if she did this it is very very sick and wrong, and she should definetly pay for what she did!!! If she did this, she knew the consequences and it would be her own fault that her life, his life, and the lives of her children are ruined! But for the both of you to claim that you know for a fact that she is guilty, is so rediculous, because you do not know s_ _t for a fact!!!!! People who think like you are disturbing to me!!!! You are people who think they know it all, and people who think they know whats right and whats wrong without knowing all the facts, people who are closed minded and so easliy able to judge, insult, and put others down who do not agree with you!!! What makes you feel that you have the right to say the horrible things you said to the other people just because you did not agree with their comments??? Just like what Allie said to confidential "and confidential person well here's the thing I agree with get real, she ruined her life his life, and her childrens life. get over it. dont you dare say it wasnt her fault bc you know it was". Well heres the thing Allie I do not , and confidential and others do not agree with you or get real so get over that , and dont you dare say Jeri is for a fact guilty when you do know anything for a fact!!!! Confidential never said that it was not her fault confidential said how do we know for a fact that she is guilty without knowing all of the evidence??? No, confidential does not know for a fact that she is guilty and niether do YOU!!!! And get real saying "if you know her so well than you know she is guilty. DO YOU KNOW HER get real and Allie???? NO you do not know her, so how do you know for a fact that she is guilty???? YOU DO NOT!!!!! YOU ARE WRONG because if they know her so well THEY KNOW FOR A FACT that she is NOT GUILTY!!! And get real also saying "and as for trusting her with your children, you better start asking your children questions and getting them some help". YOU NEED THE HELP, and I would worry if my children hung around someone like you, who can so easily insult and put people down just because you do not agree with them. You are probably a very prejudice person, and now I will be just like you and claim that I know for a fact that you are a prejudice person!! Here is another good one also from get real saying "there is no way that this women is innocent and you are a warped individual for to insinuate that the victim is not telling the truth". They never insinuated that at all!! Well then you are a warped individual to insinuate that you know for a fact that Jeri is guilty and can not possibly be innocent. How the hell do you know this for a fact??? YOU DO NOT!!!! You both convicted her without letting her go to trial. Suggest removal of this comment