Lowcountry student claims she was sexually assaulted in class
Posted: 03.10.2011 at 1:58 PM Updated: 03.10.2011 at 5:00 PM
Stratford High School
Photo

GOOSE CREEK (WCIV) -- Officials with the Goose Creek Police Department, have closed an investigation in which a female student at Stratford High School claimed she was sexually assaulted in a classroom.

Following a preliminary investigation, into the potential assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, officials say they amended the investigation title to assault and battery second degree.

According to an incident report, the father of a student called the police to report his daughter had been assaulted by a peer on March 7 and 8, on both occasions in the same teacher's class.

The female student told police that on the first incident date the peer took her cell phone and told her that he was looking for nude photos. When she requested her phone back, she said he stuffed the cell phone inside the front of her shirt and while doing so grabbed her breast from her bra. She said he pulled it out and placed it in his mouth.

The girl alleges that on the next day, March 8, while in the same teacher's class, the same student harassed her and asked her for oral sex. She told officers that both incidents occurred in the
rear of the classroom where there were no witnesses.

According to the report, investigators went to the classroom and confirmed there to be a seating area in the class where supervision is obscured by high office type barriers. Investigators said the barriers stand at least six feet high.

The victim told police that she had not reported the incidents sooner because she was afraid of retaliation.

Officials say that the investigation has been closed at the request of the female student and her parents, who no longer wish to seek charges.

The suspect, though he has not been charged in this alleged incident, has been charged as a juvenile with indecent exposure in a February incident involving two female students.

In that incident, he is accused of exposing his genitals to the two 16-year-old girls while in a classroom at Stratford High.

Officials say that he was released to the custody of his parents following that investigation and that the charge will be referred to the Berkeley County Family Court.

Click here to read the complete police report.  (WARNING: Adult Language Included)

(This story courtesy WCIV and ABCNews4.com.)

Does it concern you that this sort of thing could go unnoticed in a classroom?  Leave a comment below to tell us your thoughts.