UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas – A former Judson ISD middle school teacher was arrested on Monday after he was accused of touching a student.
The alleged incident happened last week at Kitty Hawk Middle School.
Frederick Darnell Ward, 49, has been charged with indecency with a child by contact.
Ward resigned his position on Wednesday, just one day after the alleged incident happened.
Kitty Hawk Middle School released a statement to parents regarding the incident:
To all Kitty Hawk Parents,
As principal I wanted you to know of a situation regarding a former teacher at Kitty Hawk hopefully before you see or hear about it from media. Former teacher Mr. Ward was arrested today for inappropriate behavior with a student. When the student reported the incident, it was immediately addressed by administration and investigated by JISD Police. Mr. Ward is no longer an employee of the district. We want you to know that there is nothing from the investigation that indicates there was any similar contact with any other student at Kitty Hawk or at any other campus. The safety of our students is important to us. We wanted to make sure you, as a parent, were aware of the situation.
We thank you for your support
Rodney Vigil
Principal, Kitty Hawk Middle School
According to the report, a 12-year-old student told a counselor at the school that Ward touched her chest through her clothing and kissed her.
The principal called Ward to his office, but after Ward knocked on the principal's door and was told to wait, he reportedly gathered his personal belongings and left the campus.
The affidavit said Ward later contacted the principal by cellphone and refused to come back to the school because he did not want to be "escorted out that way."
Under questioning by Judson ISD police, Ward reportedly said the student would check in between classes and she would get a "side hug" but that's it.
Ward had been with the district since 2013, first as an aide and then later as a teacher.
Judson ISD released this statement on Monday:
Bexar County Sheriff's Office today charged Frederick Darnell Ward with indecency with a child after an alleged incident at Kitty Hawk Middle School on Tuesday, 5-17-16. This incident was immediately brought to the attention of administrators at the school by the student and an investigation by JISD immediately followed. That investigation led to the employee being put on administrative leave first and he resigned from his position the next day.
Mr. Ward had been with the district as an instructional aide and later as a teacher since early 2013. Judson ISD's policy on incidents such as this is consistent to investigate allegations and to pursue them as fairly and efficiently as possible.
There is no evidence from the investigation that this employee has harmed or had any similar contact with any other students at this or any other campus within JISD.
Ward was released late Monday afternoon after he posted a bond of $50,000.