School Custodian Fired for Allegedly Touching Student

Mar 27, 2013 at 09:00 pm by bryan


Rutherford County Schools terminated a middle school custodian after he was accused of inappropriately texting a student. Shortly after the allegations were brought to light, the custodian was released from his duties on March 20th and the situation was reported to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Apparently the incident involved more than text, he was accused of touching the 13-year-old student.

Suspect Ronald E. Lewis, 51, of 331 Winter Way was charged Wednesday (3/27/13) with one count of offensive and provocative touching by School Resource Officer Sgt./Investigator Mickey McCullough.

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SRO Chris Templeton of Whitworth Buchanan Middle School notified Sgt. McCullough about allegations Lewis, a custodian at the school, texted a 13-year old student at the school.

RCS Community Relations Coordinator James Evans said when the school was initially contacted about the allegations, Rutherford County Schools notified the Sheriff's Office immediately so it could begin an investigation.

The district terminated Lewis on March 20 before the criminal investigation was completed because it was clearly inappropriate for a custodian to be repeatedly engaging a student through text messages, Evans said. Lewis was originally hired on February 13, 2009.

Through the investigation, Sgt. McCullough learned Lewis texted the girl from December through March without her parents’ permission. Sgt. McCullough read the texts.

Lewis “asked the female if he could be her boyfriend,” Sgt. McCullough said. The custodian told the girl she was “beautiful, he loved her and she was fine.”

His texts included the icons for kisses and roses, the sergeant said. He told her not to tell anyone about the texts and advised if she told police, he would go to jail.

“I assumed her identity and took possession of her phone,” McCullough said. “He continued to text me, believing I was the female juvenile, also stating he loved me.”

Lewis was charged and booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where a hearing was set April 15 in General Sessions Court.

Source

Lisa Marchesoni
Public information officer
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office

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