Gender injustice: Las Vegas teachers Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson

Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson (Photo: LVMPD)

Gender injustice: Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson

Two Las Vegas teachers, Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson, were arrested within the past five months for having inappropriate relationships with students and both have received different treatment from the media coverage received to the legal actions taken against the two teachers.

Las Vegas teacher Tanikka Queen case summary

Tanikka Queen, 22, is accused of having a relationship with a 15-year-old boy.  She was a substitute teacher and met him in school. She initially tutored him and met him at a park during lunch and then began a relationship with him.  The pair exchanged over 2,000 text and photo messages plus many phone calls. Queen knew that the relationship was inappropriate and against school rules.She referred to it in the text messages that were confiscated during the police investigation.

The 15-year-old boy who is reportedly troubled and has repeated the 8th grade a few times came home with hickeys on his neck and told his father that he was seeing a girl named Bella which is proof that the pair conspired to hide their relationship.

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The two have professed their love for one another and Queen initially admitted she had sex with the 15-year-old boy.

Las Vegas teacher Melvyn Sprowson case summary

Melvyn Sprowson, a former kindergarten teacher had a relationship with a 16-year-old girl who was not a student of his.  He met her online after she posted on craigslist seeking a roommate.  She was a runaway and of legal age who moved in with him of her own accord. She dated older men in the past and had already spent two nights at Sprowson’s home while she was still living at her mother’s home.

Police have readily admitted that she was a willing participant in the relationship and she has repeatedly professed her love for Sprowson.

Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson treated differently by legal system

Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson have received different treatment by our legal system.  Queen was arrested and during her initial court appearance her bail was lowered to $100,000.  If she is able to make bail she will be governed by house arrest guidelines and will be prohibited from having any interactions with minors.

Melvyn Sprowson has been denied bail. During his confinement at CCDC more charges were brought against him.

It appears that Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson received different treatment from society and from the legal system based upon their gender.

The male teacher Melvyn Sprowson, who had a consensual relationship with a 16-year-old girl that was of legal age that he had no school connection with, remains incarcerated while the female teacher Tanikka Queen, who had a relationship with a 15-year-old boy that was a student of hers, has the opportunity to be placed on house arrest.

It appears that female sexual predators are unfortunately still viewed as less dangerous than their male counterparts.

Both Tanikka Queen and Melvyn Sprowson are scheduled for another court appearance within the next week. Sprowson could face life in prison at this trial scheduled to begin later this month.

Related articles

• Bad teacher Tanikka Queen arrested for relationship with 15-year-old boy
• Substitute Teacher Arrested In Sex Assault
• Melvyn Sprowson fired from job, bail increased, latest case updates
• School police say parent’s inquiry about inappropriate relationship led to arrest of sub
• Texts, Calls Led to Teacher’s Sex Arrest
• Melvyn Sprowson faces more charges for relationship with Las Vegas teen

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