Three educators at a charter school in Arlington, Texas, are currently confronting criminal charges related to purported child grooming and inappropriate relationships with at least two children.
On Thursday, the Newman International Academy conducted a news conference to announce an ongoing investigation at its Gibbins site, which accommodates students in grades 7 through 12 in Arlington. According to NBCDFW, two educators and a principal at the school have been charged with felony sexual assault offences.
“We, like many teachers and students here, are devastated by the events that have transpired,” stated Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools Donna Hart during the press conference.
Hart declared that modifications in leadership were implemented as a reaction to the affair.
Chief of Police Matthew Antkowiak stated during the press conference that two seventh-grade girls informed law enforcement about the incident at the school. He did not furnish any details on their report, but stated that police apprehended a 53-year-old teacher’s helper, Ruel Barbee, on the same day.
“That happened at 9:30 in the morning, and at 1 p.m. that afternoon, we had a probable cause warrant issued by a district judge, and he was in Tarrant County Jail,” Antkowiak said. “I want to be clear on this. The speed on this incident, the suspect was in jail five hours after the outcry.”
Ruel Barbee was charged with having an improper relationship with a student while acting as an educator, which is a second-degree felony.
Police continued to investigate the situation at the school and made two other arrests.
On February 10, police arrested Gabrielle Little, 20, who was arrested on felony child grooming. Gabrielle Little posted a $15,000 bond and was released.
Two days later, police arrested Gibbins campus principal Rick Adams on five counts of tampering with evidence, tampering with a witness, and failure to report abuse. All of his charges are felonies.
Rick Adams was released after posting a total of $50,000 in bonds.
Ruel Barbee and Gabrielle Little were reportedly terminated immediately after they were arrested. Rick Adams was initially placed on administrative leave with pay, but school officials said he later resigned.
“These individuals had nothing in their background to lead us to believe that they even committed an offense,” Antkowiak said. “What I know, not what I’m speculating, ma’am, is that we have come to knowledge of incidents at other institutions in DFW where they failed to take action when we know that they were aware of what occurred on their grounds, by their employee, that they allowed to resign while under investigation. Not acceptable.”
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