TEACHER ARRESTED IN SEX ASSAULT

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 21, 2007 | by KIM NGUYEN

A seventh-grade mathematics teacher at Lewis-Palmer Middle School in Monument could face charges of sexual assault for allegedly touching female students inappropriately, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies on Thursday arrested Gregory Jackson, 34, who could face two felony counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Jackson, who also coaches the girls volleyball and basketball teams at the school, was being held at the El Paso County jail on $25,000 bail.

According to an arrest warrant, two basketball players claimed Jackson touched them in a sexual manner several times, touching or grabbing their buttocks and chests during practices. The earliest incident occurred during the 2006-07 basketball season.

Sheriff's deputies began investigating after the students told their parents, who informed school officials. Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Lari Sevene said the school resource officer then notified the Sheriff's Office of the complaints.

The girls told deputies that Jackson would lock the school's gym doors during practices to keep other students and parents out.

According to the arrest warrant, Lewis-Palmer Assistant Principal Robert Foster said Jackson told him the doors were locked to keep parents from watching the practices and lobbying him to give their children more playing time.

Foster said it was not School District 38 policy to lock the gym doors during practice.

According to the arrest warrant, other female students said Jackson would try to look down their shirts as they passed through the school halls and tell them, "I love you," and, "It's only hot because you're here."

Sevene said the investigation was ongoing, and deputies were looking into whether there were additional victims.

In the arrest warrant, Foster told an investigator he approached Jackson after he heard from a parent that one of the victims and her friends said earlier this month that Jackson was touching them. Jackson denied the allegations and told Foster he didn't know what Foster was referring to.

Jackson appeared to have no criminal record in Colorado, according to court records. He was placed on paid administrative leave last week, said District 38 spokeswoman Robin Adair.

The Sheriff's Office notified the district of Jackson's arrest shortly after he was taken into custody. Adair said the district was notifying parents on Thursday, mainly through e-mail.

Adair declined comment on the case, saying the district did not want to interfere with the investigation.

The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information on the case to contact detective Jerry Day at 520-7291.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4813 or kim.nguyen@gazette.com