A 43-year-old school employee in Idaho was arrested after a student reported being sexually abused by him.

The man, who worked for the West Jefferson School District 253, faces three counts of felony lewd conduct with a child under 16. The arrest followed a report made to a West Jefferson School Resource Officer.

The school district released the following information:

"The West Jefferson School District is aware of the recent arrest of a district employee on charges of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16. This is an extremely serious matter, and the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority. The district is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they continue their investigation. The employee in question has been dismissed from their position with the district. We are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students and will continue to work closely with authorities to ensure this matter is handled swiftly and thoroughly. Due to the ongoing investigation, the district will not be providing additional details at this time. We encourage anyone with relevant information to contact local law enforcement. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family during this difficult time, and we remain dedicated to the safety and trust of our school community."

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/10/local-school-employee-arrested-after-student-reports-sexual-abuse-to-officer/ (Oct. 17, 2024).

Commentary

According to the cited source:

Court documents say the student reported [the accused] had been touching her without clothes on. According to the teenage victim, the abuse began in July 2023.

When officers spoke to [the accused], he claimed he was teaching her about her sexuality and "described to her about the female anatomy." [The accused] reportedly admitted to sexually abusing the victim, but claimed it was "for her gratification, not his."

The above quote exemplifies how perpetrators often characterize their and their victims' roles. The perpetrator plays the part of a "tutor", and the victim plays the role of "pupil"  - an adult instructing an ignorant, but willing teenager about their body so they can discover their own "sexuality" for self-gratification and/or to sexually gratify future partners.

These perpetrators claim they are simply "helping" a child and if blame exists, blame the child and/or their parents/guardians who failed to teach the child about their own bodies and sexuality.

Safe adults know that this is just an excuse for grooming - an adult perpetrator emotionally engineering a minor for his own selfish sexual desires.

Here are other behavioral and grooming techniques of perpetrators:

• A desire to be with children/students or one particular child/student without other adults present
• Goes to great lengths to build trust with children/students and adults around them
• Looks for and/or creates opportunities to be with children/students away from parents and other adults
• Provides gifts, money, or attention to children/students without parent, caregiver, or organization knowledge and/or consent
• Takes and collects images of children/students not related to them
• Acts like a child/student and does child-like things to receive attention from children/students
• Prefers the company of children/students to adults and/or is uncomfortable around adults
• Wants children/students to view them as preferable over other adults
• Fixates on one or a few children/students while ignoring others
• Gives special permissions, such as, increasing grades without merit, allowing students to sleep in class, or allowing children to bend organizational rules
• Asking a student to stay after class alone without other adults/students present
• Communicates directly to children/students online or other means without parent, caregiver, and/or employer knowledge
• Disrespects or demeans parents, caregivers, and other adults to children/students
• Frequently touches children/students, sexually or otherwise
• Makes sexual comments or uses sex speak around children/students
• Makes comments to children/students about their bodies or appearance
• Views, stores, and shows pornography to minors
• Provides alcohol or drugs to children/students or permits children/students to abuse alcohol or drugs in their presence
• Has coercive sexual fantasies
• Is impulsive and has antisocial tendencies
• Prefers impersonal sex
• Is hostile toward women
• Has a childhood history of sexual or physical abuse
• Talks about sexual activities regarding children, students, or teens
• Encourages children/students to keep secrets
• Requests adult partners to dress or act like a child/student during sex
• Identifies children/students using sexual slang terms
• Frequently visits places where children/students are present
• Loiters in places where children/students are nude, semi-nude or can be viewed without notice, such as, bathrooms and locker rooms