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May 02, 2005
Pine Wood teacher arrested for molestation
Pine Wood Elementary School teacher Timothy Brannon was arrested Friday on seven counts of molestation of a juvenile and eight counts of sexual battery.
The DeRidder Police Department first received a complaint that a nine-year-old, fourth grade student at Pine Wood Elementary School in DeRidder had apparently been inappropriately touched by a teacher on Wednesday, April 20.
This past Monday, April 25, the student was interviewed at the Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department.
On Tuesday, Brannon, a former parish elementary school teacher of the year, was placed on administrative leave by the Beauregard Parish School Board pending the outcome of the investigation.
Thursday morning, the Beauregard District Attorney's Office received information from the school board that a number of fourth grade students had come forth with accusations of being inappropriately touched. The District Attorney's Office then passed this information to BPSO.
As with the first report it was alleged that Brannon touched students both inside and outside their clothing and more than one student reported that the teacher made the student touch his private area.
The students reported that the teacher touched them while they were in his classroom and while they were helping him grade papers, filling and entering grades into his computer.
Deputies learned that Brannon team-taught with another teacher and during each day he had direct contact with two classrooms of students. At this time a decision was made to interview all the students from both classes, approximately 40 students, to determine if there were any additional victims.
Experienced child abuse investigators from BPSO, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Department, Vernon Parish Sheriff Department, Allen Parish Sheriff Department and the Leesville Police Department began the task of interviewing these students at the DeRidder Police Department and BPSO.
Other investigators interviewed teachers and staff at Pine Wood.
As of Friday afternoon, nine students have reported that they were victims of child sexual abuse by Brannon. It is anticipated that other students will also come forward.
Friday, warrants were issued for the arrest of Brannon and he was arrested at 3:30 p.m. at BPSO after surrendering at the advise of his attorney.
He remains in jail on a $300,000 bond. A condition of his bond is that he has no contact with any students at Pine Wood.
Detectives ask that if anyone has any information concerning any other abuse to contact BPSO. The investigation is continuing.
The Beauregard Parish School Board, Beauregard District Attorney's Office, DeRidder Police Department and Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department are jointly coordinating all aspects of this investigation and they want the public to know that the safety of these children are their utmost concern.
That sentiment was reiterated by Beauregard Parish Superintendent Myrna Cooley in a statement released Friday afternoon.
"I do want to assure parents that the safety of the children in our care is our utmost concern," Cooley said. "This investigation has been a law enforcement matter with law officials assuming all responsibility for every facet of the investigation. Parents are encouraged to contact the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office with any concerns regarding the investigation. Any questions regarding educational issues will be addressed at the school and Central Office."
Posted by Nealus at May 2, 2005 12:15 PM
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