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Three Colorado administrators have been indicted over the suspension of a student who reported being sexually assaulted by a teacher to school officials at Prairie Middle School in Aurora, Colorado.
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In addition to the suspension, the female student, who identity has been concealed from the public, was also forced to apologize to the accused perpetrator and hug him.
According to FOX31 Denver, the recent indictment listed the three administrators as Principal David Gonzales, Vice Principal AJ MacIntosh and counselor Cheryl Somers-Wegienka of Prairie Middle School in Aurora, Colorado. In addition, the Cherry Creek School District has said that MacIntosh and Gonzales were on administrative leave, with final decisions pending on the court’s decisions; Somers-Wegienka left her position at the school prior to the indictment.
According to Fox News, MacIntosh insists not to have remembered the incident. As the indictment read:
“MacIntosh further claimed that she could not remember her involvement in any aspect of the disciplinary process resulting in CV’s suspension from school, even when presented with official documentation from the school district bearing her signature, and confirming her presence (at a meeting).”
Reportedly, Gonzales has made similar claims, according to the indictment.
Currently, the three face a “misdemeanor charge of failing to report child abuse or neglect.”
What do we know about the original sexual assault case?
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Back in 2013, the unidentified teen reported to MacIntosh and Gonzales that she was being sexually assaulted by a social studies teacher identified as Brian C. Vasquez, who worked at the school for around seven years. According to The Denver Channel, the girl was told the claims would hurt Vasquez’s reputation and family, stressing what a “valued teacher” he was towards the school.
According to The Aurora Sentinel, Gonzales pressured the girl to recant the claims, at which point she was suspended as a disciplinary action. As mentioned, she was also eventually forced to apologize to Vasquez in a separate meeting with MacIntosh, Gonzales, and an unidentified counselor.
In August, however, Vasquez was arrested on charges of sexually exploiting students, after he told police he sexually assaulted one student, among others. He now faces 31 felony counts, including sending nude photos to underage students. He has since been placed on administrative leave.
