Teacher arrested for inappropriately touching teen girl, Richland County sheriff says
A teacher at high school in Columbia has been arrested after inappropriately touching a student, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
William Carson was arrested Saturday for putting his hand inside a 16-year-old girl’s pants, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. The 60-year-old is a teacher at W.J. Keenan High School, according to the release.
The high school student said on March 9 she wasn’t feeling well and told Carson that her stomach hurt, the sheriff’s department reported.
Carson instructed the teen to go to his room “where he touched her stomach and put his hand down her pants,” according to the release.
The student reported the incident to another teacher and a school resource officer at Keenan High, the sheriff’s department said.
Carson was taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where he was charged with second-degree assault and battery, according to the release.
Carson has been released from the detention center, jail records show.
Following his arrest, Carson was placed on administrative leave with pay, Richland County School District One spokeswoman Karen York told The State.
“We will continue to work with law enforcement and provide any information they may need as part of their investigation,” York said.
Information on any further discipline Carson possibly could face was not available.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 11:32 AM.
