By Victor Skinner
EAGnews.org
DENVER – Do schools do enough to keep potentially dangerous sexual predators from their classrooms? Do they take accusations of inappropriate sexual contact made against their teachers seriously?
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Those are questions that the parents of one Denver child are left to ponder after a local teacher they turned in 10 years ago was finally arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, 9news.com reports.
Prosecutors have allegedly uncovered more than 4,100 images of child pornography and an 800-page daily journal kept by preschool teacher Dave Moe chronicling his interactions with female students at Denver’s elite Paddington Station School, where he had taught since 1993, the television station reports.
In a bond hearing Tuesday, officials revealed information that shows Moe faced allegations of inappropriately touching a 3-year-old student more than 10 years ago, and school officials neglected their duty to report the incident to police or social services.
“After the July 2001 incident, the family met with school director Ann Solomon, who did not fulfill her requirement under Colorado law to report the incident to authorities, a federal agent testified,” according to 9news.com.
“Special Agent Brian Palmer, who investigates child pornography cases for the Department of Homeland Security, testified at Tuesday’s hearing that the 2001 allegation involved a young girl who was still learning English after being adopted from a Romanian orphanage.
“Palmer says the girl’s parents reported she kept repeating the phrase ‘Dave touch,’ and she pointed to her genitals. Palmer testified the girl’s parents say Moe had changed their daughter’s diaper in a section of the Paddington school building that wasn’t being used at the time.”
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The family thought Moe was fired as a result of the incident, but he continued to work for the school and chronicle his daily interactions with female students. Paddington parents, who have criticized the school’s handling of allegations against Moe, packed the courtroom Tuesday, where prosecutors explained the nature of Moe’s meticulous journal.
“Prosecutors did not suggest the journal contained descriptions of abuse, instead saying the 45-year-old kept detailed records of his physical affection such as hugs and tickles shared with dozens of female students,” the television station reports.
The incident is a clear indication that parents who believe their child has been abused at school should follow up on their complaints, and insist that school leaders report the incidents to the proper authorities, or report it themselves.
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