FL Principal Faces Charges Stemming From Hypnosis

[Judi Lynn]

FL Principal Faces Charges Stemming From Hypnosis
NORTH PORT, Fla. January 12, 2012 (AP)

Criminal misdemeanor charges have been filed against a former southwest Florida high school principal accused of using hypnosis on students.

Officials say George Kenney hypnotized two North Port High students before their separate suicides last year. Kenney had been warned by his boss to stop using such one-on-one hypnosis with students.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune ( http://bit.ly/xdQcKO ) reports Kenney informed school district officials this week that he'll resign his job, effective June 30. Kenney was reassigned during a months-long investigation into his use of hypnosis.

Prosecutors decided not to file felony charges of unlicensed practice of health care. The misdemeanor charges of unlicensed practice of hypnosis carry a maximum of up to a year in jail.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fl-principal-faces-charges-stemming-hypnosis-15344835

[truthisfreedom]

1. The story does not include many more details.

One of the weirder stories I've read lately. Sounds pretty egregious.

[nvme]

4. Need I remind you that this is FLORIDA we are talkin' 'bout

I have lived here all my life Florida and brought "ANITA BRYANT, Elian Gonzalez, Hanging Chad and Bush V Gore, Do I have to continue?

[Suich]

2. What???

Kenney..."diagnosed a school resource officer with Tourette's syndrome and offered hypnosis as treatment"????

The article also says Kenney got permission from the parents of students he hypnotized....yeah, right....like I'd give permission for the school principal to hypnotize my kid!

Really strange story...don't know if you live in Florida or not, Judy Lynn, but I hope you post updates!

[Judi Lynn]

3. ABC: Hypnotist Principal Faces One Year in Jail, If Guilty

Hypnotist Principal Faces One Year in Jail, If Guilty
By ALYSSA NEWCOMB
Jan. 12, 2012

A Florida high school principal faces two misdemanor charges for practicing therapeutic hypnosis without a license on students, three of whom have since died.

George Kenney, 51, was known to hypnotize students to help them achieve better test scores and peak athletic performance, despite being warned by his superiors to discontinue the practice. The popular principal allegedly defied those orders.

Kenney, who was reassigned to an administrative job with the Sarasota County School District, will resign from his job, effective June 30, when his contract expires, Scott Ferguson, a spokesperson for the district, told ABCNews.com.

"He was well regarded by many and I'm sure will be missed by many," Ferguson said, adding that the district plans to take no further action.

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-hypnotist-principal-charged/story?id=15346388

[Javaman]

5. You're a chicken...you're a chicken...nt

[Judi Lynn]

6. US principal faces charges stemming from hypnosis

Posted on Thu, Jan. 12, 2012
US principal faces charges stemming from hypnosis
The Associated Press

A Florida high school principal accused of using hypnosis on students entered a written plea of not guilty to two misdemeanor charges on Thursday. George Kenney, 52, was charged earlier this week with two counts of unlawful practice of hypnosis.

Officials say George Kenney hypnotized two North Port High students before the two, independently of one another, committed suicide last year. Officials say Kenney had been warned by his boss to stop using such one-on-one hypnosis with students.

~snip~
Kenney is not guilty because the law requires proof that the hypnosis was for therapeutic purposes and that wasn't the reason for the hypnosis, Zimmerman said.

"The purpose always was to either boost athletic performance or academic performance," Zimmerman said. "My interpretation of therapeutic is that implies a form of treatment. He wasn't treating anybody."

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/12/2586503/us-principal-faces-charges-stemming.html#storylink=misearch