Daniel Axtell-Person
This is thirty-eight year old Daniel Axtell of Santa Ana, California. Daniel is a Teacher and is was employed at Talbert Middle School in the City of Huntington Beach, California. For just as many Teachers that are out there teaching, you will get just as many answers when you ask the lot of them, “What made you choose Teaching as a profession?” Some will tell you that they entered the field because of the impact which they wanted to have on the lives of young children. They may further explain that they wanted to “make a difference”. Others might tell you that they have a passion for the course material which they teach and especially enjoy introducing the beautiful wonders of, let’s say, the double helix, or the brilliant prose of Shakespearian sonnets, to the eager and malleable minds of young students. Some teachers may even tell you that they were attracted to the field simply for practical reasons, such as good fringe benefits, competitive pay, or the entire summer off.
So, riddle me this, fellow PYSIH readers: Why did Daniel Axtell, specifically get into teaching? Well, I equate Daniel Axtell working at a middle school to the morbidly obese burger lover getting a night job at the local Fatburger. Or, if you will, a junkie getting a job at the local pharmacy counting out Xanax and Valium unsupervised. To put it plain and simple, Daniel Axtell was a pedophile.
Daniel Axtell at face value, seemed to exemplify the personification of the “model teacher” for many years. Mr. Axtell was the kind of teacher that was wont to display a “genuine empathy” toward his students. Mr. Axtell was never too busy to “lend an ear” when an ear was needed. The children viewed him as someone with whom they could discuss their problems in confidence. It was not uncommon for many students to flock to Mr. Axtell so that they could discuss what was weighing on their minds, whether it be family problems, insecurities, or fears, Mr. Axtell had the open ears and advice which the children needed. One fourteen year old student of Mr. Axtell’s, known only as “Jane Doe” for legal reasons, was no exception.
Now, if anyone knows a junior-high school aged child, they know that there is no end to the drama. In reality, those years are an awkward time, a time of angst, confusion, and insecurity, driven by a constant and unrelenting desire to “belong”. Jane Doe was dealing with many of these common problems. In addition, Jane Doe was also dealing with family problems. Jane’s parents did not get along and would frequently argue. This upset Jane and she sought advice from Mr. Axtell. Mr. Axtell listened to her problems, did not judge her thoughts, and kept everything confidential. So Jane Doe started to confide in Mr. Axtell on a more frequent basis. As they developed rapport and a relationship, Jane introduced her “wonderful” teacher to her parents. Jane’s parents would later report that they viewed Mr. Axtell as a mentor to their daughter and a positive influence on the child. Mr. Axtell was such a “great guy”, as a matter of fact, that Jane Doe’s parents invited him to their family home on several occasions to participate in meals and gatherings. Eventually, Jane’s parents trusted Mr. Axtell so much with their child, that they even permitted their daughter and Mr. Axtell to meet outside the school and the family home. Of course, assuming that he and their fourteen year old child were working on school-related activities. Ugh.
Okay parents. We have heard this scenario all too much. Teacher takes vested interest in child, said teacher gets to know the parents to gain trust, teacher and child start meeting outside the confides of the school and family home. Sadly, the rest is all too predictable. And sickening.
Mr. Axtell was accused of grooming Jane Doe, gaining the trust of her parents, and eventually committing sexual assault against the fourteen year old junior high student. Between April 1st, 2005 through June 1st, 2005, Mr. Axtell and Jane Doe, on multiple occasions frequented various hotels throughout the Orange County area where they engaged in unlawful sexual relations, according to Jane Doe, Mr. Axtell forcibly raped her, actually. Incredibly enough, when staying at one of the hotels, Mr. Axtell actually wrote on a hotel room closet door, in pen, “Daniel + ‘victims name’” Ok, that is just creepy.
Jane Doe kept these instances of abuse a secret from her parents until 2007. When she came forward to her parents in regard to the sexual assaults at the hands of her former teacher, authorities were alerted. Daniel Axtell, pedophile at large, was subsequently charged with six felony counts of lewd acts on a fourteen-year old, burglary, and one felony count of sex with a minor. (The specifics pertaining to the burglary charge are not clear to me, but I assume that the burglary victim was also Jane Doe) Daniel Axtell was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced on April 9th, 2009, to a whopping four years in state prison.
Four years. Wow.
At the sentencing, Jane Doe and her family had the opportunity to make an impact statement pertaining to how Daniel Axtell’s actions have changed their lives. Jane Doe, addressing the court, tearfully stated that Mr. Axtell had violated her trust as a teacher. Jane Doe went on to state that she “lost friends” because of the assault and had to change schools due to the ridicule and embarrassment which she was subjected to because other students had knowledge of the abuse. Jane’s parents further stated that their daughter’s “high school experience was ruined” and that their daughter would “never be able to look at relationships the same way again”.
When Daniel Axtell gets out of prison in four short years, he will have to make a career change, unless, or course, he applies to a private middle school that does not complete background checks. But I am certain that Daniel is content in knowing that there are a multitude of other rewarding careers out there that suit his interests in young children. Perhaps a children’s sports coach? Maybe a volunteer at the local church with the youth sector? Daniel might even buy an ice cream truck so that he can tool around your neighborhood looking for his next unsuspecting victim. I wouldn’t be surprised…..
All I can say is, parents, be on the look out for Daniel Axtell, because he will be where your children are, waiting patiently to take advantage of another naive and insecure child. Trust me folks, Daniel will be lurking in the shadows, patiently biding the time in which it takes to gain the trust of a busy working parent. And when he knows to coast is clear, when he is revered and trusted by the adults who are in the picture, Daniel will sexually assault another child, it is inevitable. He may even progress to murder. Who knows? All I know is that I will continue to do my damnedest to foster solid trust and rapport with the children in my life which I love dearly so I can be that person which they confide in instead of some fucktard pedophile like Daniel Axtell.
Editor’s Note: These are the kinds of sentencing laws involving child predators that drive me insane. I looked up his court records in Orange County CA, where Santa Ana is, Now Danny pled guilty to 6 counts of Lewd act upon a child – age 14 or 15, one count of Sexual penetration by foreign object; victim under 16, and one count of, ho-hum, Burglary; first degree. All the charges are serious felonies, which makes Danny boy a 8 time convicted felon – he get 3 years each for the sex abuse charges, 4 years for the burglary charge, so they have a chance to get this piece of shit child molester/predator off the street for 27 years, a good long time for our kids to be safe from at least one diddling son of a bitch.
But no,what’s this I see? Concurrent sentences? Jesus Christ almighty, if it wasn’t for the burglary charge he’s only have gotten the three years. Our Child sex offender laws have no teeth, and this asshole will be out on the street in no time hunting down his next victim. Where the hell is Sniper Kitty when you need him?
Photo of Daniel Axtell-Person courtesy of the website “Bad, Bad Teacher”
Does Daniel Axtell-Person Deserve Hell?
- Yes (81%, 59 Votes)
- No (19%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 73
Loading ...
31 Comments »
Wouldn’t that fall under California’s three strikes rule? Should he have been sentenced to life?
part of the problem is the mentality of the system…. child molesters are now called pedophiles.. which is link to a disorder, pedophilia which is slowly becoming a “sexual preference”. almost in the same manner that homosexuality (called sodomy) went from being a crime, to a sickness to an accepted “alternative lifestyle”. I quote the last two words because I don’t see homosexuality as being a whole different lifestyle as most homosexuals
1. Work – they don’t get fre money for simply being gay
2. Pay taxes – I don’t see gay as an exemption
3. Eat
4. Excrete homosexuals still usethe bathroom
BUT the main difference here is when homosexuals went to ppresent their lifestyle, BOTH Henry Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzhenry pushed for this, while with pedophilia it seems that only one of the two want it! So to the pedophiles trying to get a ride on the coat tales of homosexuality I say “Get off the bus at the prison”
To me pedophilia should always be seen as a crime, never a sickness, as a sickness is something that can be cured. Unless the system sees pediophilia as a terminal illness – namely death penality…
Whenever we, as a society, relabel a crime as a sickess, we, as a society, suddenly have mercy on the perp, a mercy that not only is somethingthat the perp does not deserve, but also a mercy that shows cruelty to the victim. For example, when I was hit by a drunk driver in the early 90′s and again in the late 90′s I could not follow their cases as the perps had rights to privacy that superceded my right to know, now as drunk driving is seen more as a crime, the last time I had an incident with a drunk driver, I was invited to make a victim impact statement!
Pedophilia may be a preference–but its still Illegal. Just like Heroin is a preference and is illegal
If pedophilia was ever made legal; because someone preferred it over another form of sex–wouldn’t that make statutory sex laws null and void? That cannot be allowed to happen. Just because a preference is had that does not give someone the right to perform illegal activities–if thats the case, everyone with an illegal preference could argue the point and imagine our legal system then.
Simple dip stick that one of the past principals (1910 – 1945) of my high school drilled into EVERY students head, including Timothy Leary “No one has the right to do that which if every body did would destroy society”.
Takes some brains to figure that out, guess Timmy did not.
LOL!
I don’t get California’s judicial system they have the three strikes law out there, i know this because i have a cousin who got caught selling cocaine three times and is now serving a 30 to life sentence because of his third conviction under the three strikes law. Child rapers get caught and get slaps on the wrist like this crotch cricket did. There needs to be mandatory sentencing for these pieces of shit the first conviction should be an automatic life sentence without parole.
Well when he gets outs i will feel so safe because they will most likely alow him to live near a school because he has been”rehabilitated”. I love it when they use that excuse.
I feel so bad for the girl.
ATTENTION PARENTS!!!!!!!!! BEWARE any ADULT, of any SEX, who likes your kid WAY TOO MUCH!!!
No NORMAL adult wants to spend all their time with OTHER PEOPLE’S kids, or just happens to want to take your kid for “outings” or talk on the phone with them all the time, or buy them little “gifts” for no reason, or have them over to “watch movies” or “play video games”. It doesn’t matter if they’re a teacher, a preacher, a coach, a Cub Scout Leader or just a “friend”. Watch out for these people!
With the notable exception of Grand Parents, this is a reasonable assessment.
Seriously. I have volunteered to take my friend’s kid trick-or-treating, and babysat my niece and nephew, but at the end of the day I would rather “hang out” with adults. Anyone who wants to “hang out” with your kid is at best emotionally stunted, and at worst someone who finds relationships with adults to be too difficult, and so might consider your kid a much easier sexual target.
When I lived in Indian Orchard I would occasionally play with the neighbors kids or they’d come over and play with my cats, computer, etc…
I usually tried to INCLUDE the parents and I always the parents walk right in when ever their kids were around. I also prefered to be in the sight of parents…..
Anybody that has a child over and wants “privacy” should be on someones radar!
With the exception of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I had a little sister through that program, and quite enjoyed hanging out with here once a week… I’m a kid at heart, so it was nice just to be able to act silly with someone.
But, I know what you mean there, about most adults having alterior motives. My younger brother started hanging out with this guy once, who just wanted to ‘mentor’ him, and be a role model for him. My brother didn’t need any mentoring, but thought the guy was cool. My mom was skeptical, of course, but let them hang out, as long as my cousins were always around. At the time, my brother was in grade 8 and my cousins new this guy, and were friends with him.
One of my cousins was a roommate with this guy. One day, when he was out, my cousin was a little curious, and did some snooping around in his room. Tucked away at the back of his closet, in an obscure little box were a bunch of polaroids with pictures of this guy with a tube sock on his penis, and random pictures of young boys, in similiar poses.
My cousin booted his ass out of her apartment, and my brother was no longer allowed to contact this guy. I’m not sure if the police were ever called or not.
Needless to say, it’s true that when an adult takes ‘special interest’ in your child, it should be supervised by a parent, to ensure that this special treatment is truly for the best interest of the child. For example, if your kids teacher wants to give your child special tutoring, have it happen in your home, at your kitchen table, where it can be monitored. If a teacher doesn’t feel comfortable coming to your home to help the child, then you can be sure that there’s something fishy going on!
Write your damn congressmen/women, representatives, mayor, president, whatever and let them know how you feel about these idiotic pedophile laws! I’ve been doing it for years but not enough people are complaining to get anything done. Hell, even email will work. Just badger them!
Its pathetic to say the least. And just makes me more sure that my “over protective” mothering style is the way to go. I honestly dont trust ANYONE 100% with my children.
I absolutely agree 100% with whoever said that first offense should be automatically a life sentence. I know that there are some animal lovers on here that are going to be offended but if he had kicked a dog in view of others instead of raping a 14 yr. old girl then he would have gotten a larger sentence and that makes me sick.
Im not at all offended by what you said. Im offended that the “system” tries to pass off these weak as all piss sentences as Justice though.
Four… years… What the fuck, man. And seriously, what parent thinks it is a good idea to let your 14 year old hang out with her teacher? Especially one who has taken a ‘special interest’?
Just to play devil’s advocate:
If genders were reversed in this case, the pedophile would be the ‘teacher that I wish I had in high school’ and the victim would get a slap on the back and congratulations. Either way, 4 years is too little, and until the justice system isn’t biased on gender it’s impossible to get anything expect any logical sentencing.
So you woud have liked to have been forcibly raped when you were a teen would you? Because thats what happened here. She wasnt in love with her teacher, or even in lust. She was forcibly raped.
Rape is always wrong.
I think you misread my post, or just not all of it.
No, i read it all. Your saying that if this was a female teacher and a teen male we would all see it in a different light. Your wrong. Rape is rape…. statutory or forced, and should be punished accordingly.
I agree with what you’re saying, but the fact of the matter is that a huge bias does exist when it comes to gender reversal. I wasn’t clear on the number of people, as you seem to think my post was aimed at everyone, but a quick glance at ANY discussion of the cases where female teachers rape their 12-14 year old students shows exactly what I mean when I talk about double standards and hypocrisy of some people in these teacher/student rape cases. While you and I might think either case should be treated the same, a very large number of people don’t, and the number is substantial enough to affect the judging and sentencing to a point where female offenders get a slap on the wrist while male offenders get years in prison.
Ok. I apologise for being so quick to judge your comment. I thought you were acting like a lewd 14 yr old. :( It was the “teacher that i wish i had in high school” comment that got me off on my tangent.
I agree with you 100%. There does exist a double standard where it seems to be “cool” to have sex wih an older woman but when its a man, its disgusting.
My ex had an “affair” with his mothers 35 year old best friend when he was 13. When they were found out and the police called, there was a lot of the old, “nudge,nudge, wink, wink” with the officers. At the time he acted as if it was all cool and he had loved every second of it. But further down the track, when he was old enough to have a proper, consentual relationship, the effects of what had happened became apparrent. To this day, he cant hold down a heathly relationship. Manipulation and sex seems to go hand in hand in his eyes, and while im angry at him for various reasons, this is not one of them. Maybe if everyone had treated the events a little more seriously, and him mother had gotten him the therapy he badly needed, things would have turned out different.
There should be no difference between the genders when it comes to prosecuting rape cases. The lines need to be clear and unwavering. Rape should never be treated as ok or cool. No matter who or where or why.
What a dick
Daniel Axtell was a teacher of mine while I attended a secondary high school several years ago. Out of all the teachers that have taught me in school Daniel was someone I could relate to. Yeah he did listen to me and yeah he gained my trust. He still has my trust to this day. He actually gave a shit. Someone might say, “Well that was just a front or a mask to disguise his real intention as a predator”. I say bullshit! Daniel encouraged me to read the literature that I, not the schools, was fond of such as Bukowski, Henry Miller, and Henry Rollins etc. He would get me books to read that he felt I could relate to and I did. Such books as into the wild, eddy cotton, catcher in the rye etc.
I remember I was at the gym when I saw his face appear on the news. I was amazed but at the same time figured that the only guy I can remember as a helping hand, brother, friend and teacher in school would be jailed for under aged sex. I could see firsthand how younger girls adored the man. He was charming, smart, gave advice, would listen and always had a big smile. Troubled girls grab onto such a person and especially a teacher. It’s a god damn shame that this happened.
Yeah, he sounds like a great guy, too bad he RAPED A MINOR. You’re seriously saying this girl was “troubled” and basically asked for it? Sounds like you drank a little too much of this rapist’s kool-aid.
I like Henry Miller’s works, but given that he was pushing you in that direction, didn’t you question the content with relation to a teacher a little bit?
I mean… I’m not usually for book censorship, but the Tropic of Cancer should probably be avoided until say…. when you’re at least 16 or 17? At a minimum? I mean if you can’t see it in a theater….
I gotta say, the idea that sentencing laws have no teeth is completely false. For whatever reason, this judge made a decision (maybe a bad one) to dispose of the sentencing this way. Keep in mind that in Georgia, an 18 year old boy who had sex with his 17 year old boyfriend was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Also keep in mind that even if that 18 year old hadn’t gotten a draconian sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender, a process that in some jurisdictions (like much of Florida) essentially condemns him to being homeless. So, while this case is a terrible situation with an unsatisfying end, let’s not fan the flames of the moral panic over sex offenders.
In the statement: Daniel Axtell was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced on April 9th, 2009, to a whopping four years in state prison. Well, folks, he pleaded guilty – the case never went to court.April 9th was the sentencing hearing after he changed his plea to guilty in December 2008. So if you are going to make a report on someone – at least do it correctly. No jury “found” him guilty – he pleaded guilty to avoid a jury trial. The 4 years was a trade off for the guilty plea. Plea bargaining – you gotta love it (not).
Jane Doe was a wild child but that doesnt meen she deserved what happened. She is now a professional modle and living her life to the fullest.
sorry, but i have to edit out the victim’s name from your post. we here at pysih make it a point to protect the privacy of victims of childhood sexual abuse.
-editor
You do know you aren’t supposed to make victims’ names public, correct? It’s illegal, dude.