After teaching at Hancock Place High School for four years, Former Hancock High School teacher Baxter Harris, 30, of St. Louis County is arrested for having sex with a minor. He is also charged with furnishing pornographic material to three other female students.
Teacher busted for having sex with students
Additional charges included with showing her and three other girls at hand explicit pictures of himself. There are six charges in all.
Harris was arrested Friday but was released over the weekend pending warrants and has been removed from the district.
St. Louis County police said that after starting a relationship with a 17 year old female student, Harris had sex with her in a classroom and on school grounds behind the gym some time between March and September of 2008.
He was charged Monday with two counts of sexual contact with a student and four counts of furnishing pornography to minors, felonies all. The other girls involved were 15 and 16 years old.
The furnishing of pornographic materials charges involved transmitting photos.
St. Louis County public information officer Tracy Panus said a local KSD reporter that, “One was a cellphone with the capacity to take pictures as well as an actual camera that was passed around. Pornorgraphic pictures were passed around as well as with a camera phone.”
In turn, Paris took pictures of his genitals and showed them to the girls, police said.
Superintendent Greg Clark said that the district learned of the situation on Wednesday afternoon after one of the girls told a counselor about the alleged incidents.
Baxter was put on paid leave effective Thursday and the school board is beginning the process to terminate his employment, Clark said.
“It’s a troubling situation, to say the least, said Clark”. “We’re shocked by it, and we are doing everything that we can at this point to look out for the safety and well-being of our students.” Clark also made a point of stating that “counselors are working with the girls and their families.”
Thomas Mickes is the attorney for the Hancock Place School district says that, “The board of education met on Friday and they voted to authorize to issue charges for his dismissal. They also took the unusual step of adopting a resolution asking the state board of education for permanent license revocation.”
Additoonally, the Hancock board of Directors is quick to point out that Harris passed all required background checks before his employment begain.
Hancock Place is being proactive to notify parents and explain the events and what Hancock is doing to support the students.
In a letter to parents’ superintendent Clark states:
Dear Parents:
In an effort to openly communicate with you, I would like to make you aware of a situation in our school district. We are deeply shocked and saddened to report that a Hancock Place High School teacher is under investigation for alleged misconduct with students. Based upon our investigation it appears that only a small number of high school students were involved.
Because this is a sensitive matter involving both an employee and students of the district, there are few details I can share with you at this time. However, I can assure you that the district is cooperating fully with the St. Louis County Police Department in their investigation. In accordance with district policy, the teacher has been placed on removed.
I understand the dismay and questions you probably have about this matter. We are deeply troubled by any report that an employee may have betrayed the trust placed in him. Please be confident that protecting the welfare of all students and providing a safe, secure learning environment is our highest priority in the Hancock Place School District. All of our employees are required to have a clear criminal and child abuse record check before employment. The employee involved complied with this policy.
The school district will continue to cooperate fully with the St. Louis County Police Department and we encourage parents to talk with their children and report any information you deem appropriate to the school district. We have counselors available at school for students.
Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated as we work together through this difficult matter. Our students will always remain the central focus of all that we do here in the Hancock Place School District.
Sincerely,
L. Greg Clark, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Hancock Place has about 1900 students in three schools in south St. Louis County.
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