A trial date has been set for a former East Texas teacher facing child sex charges.
57-year-old Robert Craig Varnell, is scheduled to appear in 188th District Court on September 23rd, according to the Gregg County District Clerk's Office.
Varnell was arrested in May 2011 when he was a teacher at Longview High school on charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and sexual assault of a child.
He remains jailed on a $1.25 million bond.
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(FOX 11 / CNS) Three former students of a teacher at El Sereno Elementary School are suing the Los Angeles Unified School District, charging that the teacher molested them.
The district confirmed it moved to fire teacher Armando Gonzalez in 2012 over alleged misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reported. But details about the allegations were not immediately available Wednesday, when the suit was filed, district spokesman Sean Rossall told the newspaper.
The litigation involves three of Gonzalez's former students who did not report the alleged wrongdoing until recently, The Times reported. The girls "discovered that the psychological injury, illness and suffering" they subsequently experienced were "caused by the childhood sexual harassment, molestation and abuse," according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The district had warning, dating to 2007, of Gonzalez's unfitness to teach based on episodes of touching, fondling and kissing girls on the lips, the suit charges. The period of abuse recounted in the lawsuit spans 2008 through 2010, The Times reported.
The lawsuit also alleges that there are up to 15 victims, a claim that attorney Luis Carrillo Told The Times is based on information provided to one of his clients by a school district employee.
L.A. Unified said it is looking into the matter.
(FOX 11) 7 months ago Zachary Joshua Reeder was arrested by irvine Police. Reeder, married with a young daughter, taught social science at Servite High School and was a baseball coach. But, shortly after the arrest he was fired. Prosecutors are alleging that the 30 year old posed as a young, blonde woman on Facebook to lure underaged teenage boys to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos. According to the prosecution he faces 110 felony counts that range from lewd acts against a child to possession and distribution of child pornography. The DA's office says there are 70 victims. The youngest is 14.
While the arrest happened 7 months ago he has delayed his arraignment. That happened again today during a brief appearance in court. The judge delayed it to Oct 7th. Reeder is out on a million dollars bail.
An early morning electrical fire in a bathroom at Wise Elementary School led to canceled classes on Thursday. Officials said the fire started sometime between 1 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Debbie Griffin said this is her 29th year of teaching at the school.
"We're a family here at Wise, we're a family and we love each other," she said.
Love she was really feeling on Friday as teachers took the day off from their students to help her recover from the electrical fire that left her classroom covered in soot. Although the flames were contained to the bathroom, smoke damage and soot left four classrooms unusable for the time being.
Griffin said few things from her classroom are salvageable .
"It was very devastating at first, but then you realize it's just stuff," Griffin said.
However, now 29 years worth of teaching material and her students' school supplies are gone.
"As a parent, I can't imagine having to re-buy my school supply list because it gets expensive, and in this economy these days people need help with their funds," said parent Lori Acker.
So, Acker, along with other Chapel Hill ISD parents and employees are donating supplies, something they said they are thankful they can replace.
"This could have been so much worse. As a firefighter's wife, this could have been out of control by the time fire department got here. Lives could have been lost in this and so He's blessed us completely, but also it shows the love and the support of the Chapel Hill family," Acker said.
"You know, the theme this year at Wise is "Whatever it takes," and that's what we are doing and these kids are troopers," Griffin said.
Troopers who remind her of what is most important.
"God puts blessings in front of you that during your daily life, you don't see them, but when something like this happens, God puts those in front of you and then you have to stop and tell him thank you," Griffin said.
If you would like to donate teaching supplies or school supplies, you may drop them off at Wise Elementary School's front office.
Griffin said glue, markers, paper, puzzles and anything else you may think a kindergartner could use would be great.
The Chapel Hill ISD PTO is also working on organizing a fundraiser for school supplies and monetary donations.
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