6 months ago
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (WUSA) - A Prince William County school teacher has been arrested for having inappropriate contact with two juveniles, both of whom were 15-year-old boys from Dale City.
Shannon Arnold Patterson, 32, of Woodbridge, was arrested on Monday. Police say their investigation started in July when detectives from the Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating a complaint of inappropriate contact between a Prince William County teacher and a student.
It was reported to police that the teacher, identified as Patterson, had inappropriately touched a 15-year-old male student. The alleged offense was reported to have happened between November 2008 and July 2009.
During the investigation, police say their detectives also learned that the teacher had sent inappropriate text messages to a second student. The second student was also identified as a 15-year-old boy. The inappropriate contact with the second victim allegedly occurred during the same time frame. Police say both victims were students at Beville Middle School in Woodbridge, but that the inappropriate contact with the victims did not occur on school grounds.
On Monday, police obtained warrants for the teacher's arrest charging him with taking indecent liberties by person in custodial/supervisor relationship and use of a communication system to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Police say Patterson, 32, of Woodbridge, turned himself in to police and was held without bond. He will have a hearing in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Ken Blackstone, a spokesman for the Prince William county school system said school officials were aware of the investigation and are fully cooperating with police. Patterson was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. Blackstone tells 9NEWS NOW that Patterson has been with the school system since the year 2000, and he is employed as a language arts teacher at Beville Middle School.
Written by Bill Starks9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
