- FAST FACTS:
- Both Men Face $2,500 Fine
- Victim's Mother is Pleased Case is Moving Forward
- MCS says it Encourages Staff to Over-Report
tom.powell@wreg.com
(MEMPHIS October 5, 2009 8:20 PM) -- White Station High School Principal David Mansfield and Assistant Principal Eric Harris have both been charged with "Violation of Duty to Report."
The charge is a class A misdemeanor. The principal and assistant principal do not face any jail time, but if they're found guilty they could be fined up to $2,500.
The two are accused of not reporting an incident on September 18, 2009 to police. According to an Affidavit of Complaint in the case, a 17-year-old female student was beaten "by multiple students on campus." Witnesses later told police the victim had multiple injures, she was bleeding and was unable to move her hand after the attack.
At the start of the school year, District Attorney General Bill Gibbons says MCS distributed a DVD called, "Responsibility for Reporting Child Physical and Sexual Abuse Incidents."
In the DVD, which was supposed to be viewed by MCS employees, Gibbons outlines when it is necessary for staff to report incidents to police.
Police say in the White Station case, they learned of the beating from the victim's mother, not from either the principal or assistant principal.
"Frankly, I'm surprised this incident was not reported because it has only been a matter of weeks since that video was distributed to the schools," says Gibbons.
"I would hope this would be a reality call for them to follow protocol," said one parent outside White Station Monday.
"I'm sure Mr. Mansfield had his own reasons for not reporting this if he didn't," said another parent.
Several teachers throughout the district have told WREG in the past, they've felt pressure not to report incidents to police. MCS officials, however say they encourage staff members to "over-report."
"At no instance is anyone told not to report an incident, and if we find that is occuring, we will deal with that accordingly," says MCS Security Chief Gerald Darling.
