WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Alleged sex assault at local school

Alleged sex assault at local school

The mother of a five-year-old child, who asked not to be identified, says on December 14th, when she went to the Frontiers After-School program at Northwest Rankin Elementary School to pick up her daughter, an assistant director told her to tend to her daughter immediately.

"We found your daughter in the bathroom with another girl. We asked them what they were doing. They were in the last stall," the mother said of the conversation she had with the Frontiers employee.

The mother says she found out another five-year-old girl had been touching her daughter.

The mother went to the police, the principal, and the Director of the Frontiers program.

"She said we're gonna investigate. I said what are you going to do about the child? Because obviously I'm afraid she's gonna do it to somebody else," the mother said.

A father, who also asked not to be identified, says that's exactly what happened to his daughter a week later.

"A teacher went to the bathroom, caught the girl coming out from under the stall," he said. "Once it happened there, it should have never ever gotten far enough to happen to my daughter."

The dad says later that day, before he found out about the alleged incident, the Frontiers Director shared her knowledge of the incident with someone who happened to be a family friend. But he says the director never called him. He says, when he confronted the Director about the incident, she said she didn't feel there was anything to report.

"You mean to tell me a little girl coming out of a stall after she's already done this on another case is not something you should notify me about?" he said.

Attorney Latrice Westbrooks says the families believe the alleged offender may also be a victim of sexual assault, and they hope the girl's situation at home is investigated. They also believe the girl has now been removed from the Frontiers program.

Westbrooks says the parents are looking at options for legal recourse that are available to them.

A spokesperson for the Rankin County School District said "The safety of our children at school, on the bus, or at home is our top priority. Any concern that is brought to our attention by a student or parent is investigated thoroughly and immediately."

Flowood Police Chief Johnny Dewitt said, "We received a report. We are working with the school, the parents, the Department of Human Services, and the case has been turned over to Youth Court."

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