Report: Former Pace Academy teacher arrested on charges of sexual battery
A former Pace Academy teacher has been arrested on charges of sexual battery involving two teenage students earlier this year, according to a report from 11 Alive News.
Marshall Lopez, 33, was taken into custody Monday and booked into Fulton County Jail on two counts of sexual battery against a minor. Warrants allege the misconduct occurred at the school between March and May, including incidents where Lopez is accused of inappropriately touching female students after class.
One student reported three incidents in which Lopez allegedly assaulted her after scolding her for poor performance. Another student told investigators Lopez caught her cheating on a test and forced her to choose a punishment, leading to an alleged assault. She also accused him of hugging her and touching her inappropriately.
Rough Draft obtained a statement about the arrest and media coverage issued by Head of School Fred Assaf:
Dear Pace Parents and Caregivers,
As you may be aware, several articles related to a personnel matter have been published online today. The former employee highlighted in this news coverage was terminated last spring following concerns about unprofessional behavior, which we addressed immediately and in accordance with school policy. We have been working with law enforcement and are grateful that an arrest has finally been made.
Please know that the safety and well-being of our students are always our highest priority. As this is an active investigation, we aren’t able to share additional details at this time, but know that we continue to cooperate fully with the Atlanta Police Department and other authorities.
We also ask for your partnership in supporting our students and in respecting the privacy of those directly impacted. If your child has questions or is experiencing concern or anxiety about this news, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our counseling team. We are here to help.
Thank you for your continued trust in our community and in our commitment to doing what’s right for every student.
Sincerely,
Fred Assaf
Head of School
The post Report: Former Pace Academy teacher arrested on charges of sexual battery appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.