A Roswell private school teacher faces charges after accusations emerged that he grabbed a student’s butt more than 30 times during class, authorities said.
John Emmanuel Garcia of Atlanta faces a count of sexual battery against a minor after the alleged activity in his Spanish classroom at High Meadows School on Willeo Road, Roswell police told Channel 2 Action News.
The student told investigators that Garcia grabbed him more than 30 times while in class, according to a police incident report. The student also told police he “did not like Mr. Garcia because he touched his private area.”
The alleged incidents took place over the past two months and was reported to police and school officials in mid-November. Garcia was arrested Sunday.
The student’s age was not released.
Garcia had worked at the school since 2017 and had taught Spanish to children between pre-K and fifth grade during his tenure, Interim Head of School Bud Lichtenstein said in an email to students’ parents Monday following the arrest.
He added that Garcia was placed on administrative leave as soon as staff heard about the allegation.
“The safety and security of our community is our primary concern,” the letter continued. “This is an unfortunate reminder of the importance of talking to your child about student/adult boundaries and to remind them to let you or a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, administrator) know if there have been any uncomfortable conversations or behaviors with any adult they encounter.”
Lichtenstein also said the school had performed a thorough background check on Garcia, which found no red flags.
Garcia was released from the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday on a $10,000 bond, jail records show. His attorney told Channel 2 he has no comment about the charges.
His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 23.
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