QUINCY (WKZO AM/FM) — An investigation into whether two Quincy School administrators properly handled allegations of sexual misconduct by teacher Jason Ferrell has been suspended, because attorney Robert Huber says his probe is interfering with the Branch County Sheriff’s investigation.
Superintendent Craig Artist and high school principal David Spalding remain on administrative leave with pay.
Huber read an e-mail he sent Thursday to Sheriff’s Department Detective Sgt. Mike Gatke which indicated he did not want to get in the way of their investigation. While answering questions from the audience, Huber said Artist and Spalding were part of the Sheriff’s Department investigation.
Many in the Quincy community have raised questions about how past and present Quincy school administrators managed allegations against Ferrell who is facing criminal sexual conduct charges in both Branch and Calhoun County.
The Branch County charges were filed in connection with alleged incidents involving one of his former students.
Four employees at Three Oaks Elementary, including the Principal, are now facing misdemeanor counts in a similar case.
They are charged with failing to report abuse in the case of a boy who was bruised, emaciated and dehydrated, whose parents eventually went to prison for child abuse.
They allegedly knew the boy was being abused two years before the incident that resulted in criminal charges against the parents, and failed to report it.
Three Oaks is located in Berrien County near the Indiana border.
