Stephen Wesley: 'Fight Club' Teacher Arrested for Arranged Fights

by Scott Wu | March 17, 2010 at 04:29 pm

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Stephen Wesley, 'Fight Club' Teacher, Arrested for Arranging Fights between Students

Stephen Wesley, a former teacher at a LA County probation camp, was arrested on Tuesday March 16 for arranging fights between students in August 2008. Stephen Wesley was charged with 6 counts of child endangerment. He allegedly arranged 5 fights between rival gang members in a classroom, and the fights were recorded by a security camera.

Stephen Wesley, 43, is being held on a $600,000 bail according to LA County sheriff's website. A sheriff's spokesperson, Steve Whitmore, said Wesley not only allowed students to fight, but also set out ground rules.

"This individual was supposed to create a safe environment for probationers and he was allowing them to engage in overt violent acts," Whitmore said. "He not only allowed the fights to take place, he set the ground rules."

Stephen Wesley is said to be seen and heard on the security footage. It is believed that he set out the fights in response to an argument between 2 student gangs.

Whitmore said Wesley instructed students not to punch others in the face, and specified the length of the fights.

Wesley apparently thought the security camera was broken. Probation staff later found out the fight from video feeds, went into the classroom and broke up the fight.

Stephen Wesley was removed from the classroom at Camp Holton and resigned in September 2008. Before his arrest, Wesley said he was in Camp Holton for a day as a substitute, but knew nothing about the fighting.