TEXAS LAW REQUIRES SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN SCHOOLS TO BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE

Affidavit: Carlisle Junior High principal didn’t report possible sex assault

 

KLTV

jANUARY 17, 2023 

 

                                                                                     Paul Louis Richards

 

CARLISLE, Texas (KLTV) - A junior high school principal was arrested Saturday after he allegedly failed to report a sexual assault.

Paul Louis Richards, principal of Carlisle Junior High School, was booked into the Rusk County Jail on Saturday on a charge of failure to make a required child abuse report. According to an affidavit, on Sept. 23, 2022, Richards’ office was notified of an alleged sexual assault where a student was the victim. Richards was required under Texas Family Code chapter 261 to report the alleged crime to law enforcement within 48 hours of receiving knowledge of the incident.

The affidavit states that by Sept. 28, 2022, Richards had still not reported the incident to law enforcement, despite having met with the alleged victim’s mother the day prior and also making several notes in a journal pertaining to possible criminal charges that might apply to the incident.

“This clearly shows that Richards believed some sort of criminal act had been committed,” the affidavit states.

Richards has since posted the $1,500 bond amount and has been released from the Rusk County Jail.

The Carlisle ISD superintendent has released a statement on the arrest of its junior high principal, saying there is no threat to the safety of students.

According to Superintendent Michael Payne, the incident occurred on the junior high campus and involved one student’s conduct toward another. The offending student has been disciplined and removed from the school and any threat to students has been eliminated, according to Payne.

Payne said the district is cooperating with the investigation and “is hopeful that with additional evidence and clarification the matter will be resolved expeditiously.”