Prior Complaint Surfaces Against Arrested Teacher

NEW INFORMATION A Causey Middle School teacher arrested on a sexual abuse charge was at the center of another complaint earlier this school year. Alabama Mobile

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Thu, January 14, 2010 - 1:09 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, January 14, 2010 - 7:00 pm CST

MOBILE, Alabama - A Causey Middle School teacher arrested Tuesday on allegations that he gave a 9 year old boy alcohol and inappropriately touched him was at the center of another complaint earlier this school year.

Mobile County School Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols confirmed Thursday that a parent filed a complaint against Charles Lewis Jr. last September claiming the sixth grade science teacher exposed himself to her son.

According to Nichols, Lewis "inadvertently" exposed himself while changing out of a space camp costume, which he wore while teaching a science lesson. The incident happened when the student asked to stay in Lewis' room after class. Lewis agreed, and while the boy was in the classroom, Lewis changed out of the costume in a closet.

"The boy got up and looked to see what was going on in the closet and saw the teacher taking off the jumpsuit. Apparently while taking off the jumpsuit he (Lewis) inadvertently exposed himself," said Nichols. "The teacher of course denied intentionally exposing himself."

Nichols said the child named in the complaint was transferred out of Lewis' classroom at his mother's request. No other action was taken and the complaint was filed in a supervisor's folder, not in Lewis' personnel file.

Lewis' trouble doesn't stop there. The 50 year old teacher, who was named Causey Middle School's Teacher of the Year in 2009, was busted driving drunk on his way to a teacher work session at school Jan. 4, according to Cpl. Steve Smith of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

Police records show Lewis' blood alcohol level was .11 when he was involved in a wreck at 6:22 a.m. at the intersection of CR 9 and CR 32 in Baldwin County.

Lewis has not yet posted the $60,000 bond set Wednesday in his most recent case, which involves charges that he sexually abused a child and contributed to the delinquency of a minor.

According to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, the alleged victim, who is not a student at Causey Middle School, spent the night at Lewis' home in July 2009. The victim told his mother Lewis offered him alcohol and inappropriately touched him. According to a sheriff's office press release, Lewis admitted to touching the child but insisted it was not intentional.

Lewis has been a teacher for 18 years and previously taught at Baker Elementary School and South Brookley Elementary School.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Video
Photo

Embed:

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

News –› Mobile

News –› Summerdale

Discuss this in the forum

Breaking News Email

Other Notifications »

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Download Video

Google Buzz

freedomtofascismcom Says:

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 4:32 pm

the state run school system is designed to act as a surrogate parent, this is where the confusion lies in a childs mind. They are taught by the southern tradition of obey your elders and all that BS. I was abused in school too, and I can say vengence is a dish best served cold. Once I became an adult I made my rounds and low and behold these scum were still tenured teachers working and abusing. I won’t go into details here but three no longer have the mental or physical ability to abuse anyone now ,infact they are dependent upon others for assistance with the most menial tasks, as it should be. There should be no bond for these offenses unless approved by the victims parents or guardians, get my drift here? They should never see a courtroom either. This type of abuse sure changes ones perspective on the world in the mind of a child. Some of us reconcile with self and realize the fault lies with the abuser and we let it go ,or see to it that it doesn’t happen again. There is no correcting this behavior,they do not stop abusing ever,unless (insert drift here) is done. Parents! Examine your children physically,listen to them when they say things to you,do not discount their words. Many are threatend with the deaths of their parents or family members if they tell so pay attention. namaste…

Report Abuse

brwnisrock Says:

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 1:50 pm

This is so very sad, you hear more and more about people in positions of trust abusing that trust. How does some one not ONCE but TWICE—- I touched him..but it was unintentional” & “I inadvertently exposed myself”. How many more times has this happened and it has either been covered up by the school or not reported because the child was scared?
To make matters worse the school is making threats of detention or suspension of students that talk about Mr. Lewis??
How can you tell children this? I am sure they are confused, scared and wondering what this really is all about.
Do we as parents really think something like this is going to happen and try to make sure our children understand?
I am sure we all want to think this could not happen to me, when sad as it may be we never know.
I have already sat down with my 8 yr old and explained we have areas NO ONE should touch. I guess we all need to do that. How terrible our children can not grow up children, they have horrible things out there they all face each day.
It is getting worse and worse. We all need to pray and seek guidance from the Lord!
I hope they find the truth and keep this man away from children!

Report Abuse

Concerned Mother Says:

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 11:10 am

Look for more concerns voiced by parents in the past about this teacher which were met with responses from school officials that fall into the “I’ve never heard of anyone saying anything bad about this teacher before” category.

Report Abuse

Alabam Says:

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 2:41 pm

The bond amount should be much higher than 60k.

Report Abuse