New Orleans LA July 6 2013 A former West Bank high school teacher accused of sexual misconduct with a student has been arrested, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said Wednesday. Rene Pierre, 47, 224 Bienville Drive in Gretna, surrendered to authorities Tuesday (July 2) after learning an arrest warrant had been issued for him.
Authorities began investigating Pierre in October after a 17-year-old student at John Ehret High School in Marrero told his father about inappropriate behavior and harassing text messages with sexual content he had received from Pierre, his art teacher.
Pierre allegedly once removed his own clothing and asked the teen to draw a picture of his backside, sheriff's spokesman Col. John Fortunato said in a news release.
Informed of the allegations, Detective Brian Johnson, who is the officer on duty at the school, soon learned that two other students, ages 16 and 18, had reported similar comments from Pierre. Johnson interviewed those teens, witnesses and faculty members and learned that Pierre allegedly often showed students sexually explicit pictures on his computer at school. Pierre also attempted to coax the students into a "back room" for sex, Fortunato said.
Pierre's desktop computer was seized by the Sheriff's Office and is being analyzed by a forensic specialist.
Pierre was suspended by the school district without pay Oct. 25 and fired a month later, the Jefferson Parish School System said Wednesday.
"He was terminated from the system in November 2012 upon the conclusion of an internal investigation,'' the school district said in a statement. "We will continue to offer the authorities our full cooperation and encourage parents to contact the Sheriff's Office immediately with any concerns or information that may be relevant to the investigation.''
Authorities urged parents with similar allegations to call Johnson at 504.364.5300 or Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111.
Source- nola.com
Authorities began investigating Pierre in October after a 17-year-old student at John Ehret High School in Marrero told his father about inappropriate behavior and harassing text messages with sexual content he had received from Pierre, his art teacher.
Pierre allegedly once removed his own clothing and asked the teen to draw a picture of his backside, sheriff's spokesman Col. John Fortunato said in a news release.
Informed of the allegations, Detective Brian Johnson, who is the officer on duty at the school, soon learned that two other students, ages 16 and 18, had reported similar comments from Pierre. Johnson interviewed those teens, witnesses and faculty members and learned that Pierre allegedly often showed students sexually explicit pictures on his computer at school. Pierre also attempted to coax the students into a "back room" for sex, Fortunato said.
Pierre's desktop computer was seized by the Sheriff's Office and is being analyzed by a forensic specialist.
Pierre was suspended by the school district without pay Oct. 25 and fired a month later, the Jefferson Parish School System said Wednesday.
"He was terminated from the system in November 2012 upon the conclusion of an internal investigation,'' the school district said in a statement. "We will continue to offer the authorities our full cooperation and encourage parents to contact the Sheriff's Office immediately with any concerns or information that may be relevant to the investigation.''
Authorities urged parents with similar allegations to call Johnson at 504.364.5300 or Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111.
Source- nola.com