True Love Thwarted By The Law

James Hooker and Jordan Powers in happier and more gag-inducing times.

     Back in March, I stumbled across a love story that put Romeo and Juliette to shame. I thought it would last, but alas, it seems our star-crossed lover's romance was just as doomed as Shakespeare's suicidal duo. Let me refresh your memories with a quick synopsis...
    James Hooker, a teacher at James Enochs High School in Modesto, California left his family and his job to take up with one of his students, 18-year-old Jordan Powers. Hooker and Powers both insisted nothing sexual had happened between the two until after Power's 18th birthday. It caused quite the scandal and the pair made the rounds through various media outlets to profess their deep love for one another and swear that Jordan wasn't diddled by Hooker until she was legal. Jordan's mother, Tammie Powers, wasn't buying that load of bullshit and tried her damnedest to tear the Hooker/Powers couple apart, even launching a Facebook page dedicated to outing Hooker as a sleazy pervert and sexual predator. Tammie was convinced a sexual relationship between Hooker and her daughter began long before Jordan's transition from jailbait to barely legal status. An investigation into the lovebird's relationship was launched and it looks like Hooker has a bit of a history when it comes to robbing the cradle.

The lighting for his mugshot really brought out the "skeevy old perv" in his eyes.

     Police discovered that back in 1998, Hooker had an "alleged" sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student and was arrested Friday, charged with one count of oral copulation with a minor. At least for now. You're probably curious as to what Ms. Powers reaction to this is right? Hoping the two can battle through this and strengthen their relationship, defying the odds and fighting for their happily ever after? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems this fairy tale romance wasn't meant to be. During a phone call with Hooker from the joint, Jordan broker up with him. Here's how she tells it, in her words:


"He called me from jail and yes, I told him that we're done. I lost everything for this guy. I lost my senior year. I gave up all my friends at high school because they didn't agree with me."

     I can't say I feel all that bad for her. She knew what she was getting into with a guy that left his wife and kids to "play daddy" with one of his students. Did she think she was the first, his one and only? It's possible, being a young and naive girl that was preyed upon by her middle aged teacher whose receding hairline is giving George Costanza a run for his money, she would believe Hooker's "you're my first" baloney. About finding out her balding Prince Charming had trouser snaked another student before her, Jordan said, "My heart dropped. I felt betrayed. I just have a gut feeling there are other girls." It's funny how once a gal is betrayed by the man she supposedly loves, all these new feelings and suspicions emerge.
     It appears Hooker tried to make it work and attempted to "come clean" to Jordan about his past teeny bopping. According to what Jordan told an interviewer, Hooker claimed he met the 17-year-old online and hung out with her as just friends. That "he went to her house and she came out of the bathroom naked and he only touched her boobs and her legs." Jordan said Hooker told her he freaked out so he left and went home and that nothing else happened. Apparently, she doesn't believe him because she went on to say, "How could he lie to me for all these months and look me in the eye and tell me he loves me? I don't know how someone could have such a cold heart." I can't believe anyone, even an idiotic, lust-struck teenager could believe he hadn't been hitting on and porking students before she came along. Maybe she thought she was special because she was the only one Hooker wanted to bone on a regular basis and went as far as to leave his family and move his newfound love into an apartment with him. I think dude just mid-lifed to the extreme and wanted his teen poon on hand and at the ready when his viagara-induced hard-ons kicked in.
     Whatever the case, I'm sure Lifetime will have a revised version of the Hooker/Powers love story ready for the Pissed Off At All Men masses they cater too. Get your popcorn and Midol ready, ladies.

Just not meant to be. I wonder what decade his breakup songs are from...