Former teacher accused of assault
A former Texarkana, Texas, Independent School District teacher has been formally charged by prosecutors in Miller County, Ark., with sexual assault involving a former Texas High School student.
Carlton James Bailey Jr., 26, allegedly became the 18-year-old student’s sociology instructor in January, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. TISD police referred the student in June to Texarkana, Ark., police after learning that sexual misconduct by Bailey allegedly occurred at the girl’s Texarkana, Ark., home the night of March 22.
Texarkana, Ark., police arranged for the student to be interviewed at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center in midJune. The girl told a forensic interviewer that Bailey was “flirtatious” toward her and that she looked him up on the cellphone-based application Instagram and asked to “follow him first and not too long after he followed her as well.”
The girl reported that Bailey began messaging her directly and that the two communicated through Instagram and SnapChat, another cellphone-based application.
“She said on Wednesday, March 21, he messaged her
most of the night,” the affidavit states. “The messages went from flirtatious to more suggestive to interactions between Mr. Bailey and (the student).”
The girl reported that the following day, Bailey gave her an energy drink and candy at school. The girl said she gave Bailey her address in Texarkana, Ark., and he came to her home at approximately 11:30 p.m. that night. Bailey allegedly entered through the front door as the adults in the home slept.
The girl allegedly told the forensic interviewer that Bailey pushed her against a wall and began kissing her “kind of violently,” the affidavit states. The girl described a somewhat forcible encounter and allegedly told the forensic interviewer that Bailey appeared to enjoy “that she was uncomfortable.”
Bailey allegedly left the house with a blanket from the girl’s bedroom.
Bailey allegedly denied ever being to the girl’s home or knowing where she lives when first interviewed by Texarkana, Ark., investigators. After being warned that investigators intended to review video surveillance footage from nearby businesses and have the police department’s Crime Scene Investigation unit process the student’s room for evidence, Bailey allegedly confessed and provided an account in keeping with that provided by the alleged victim.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell formally signed off on charges of first-degree sexual assault. If convicted, Bailey faces six to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.
TISD spokeswoman Tina Veal Gooch said Bailey’s employment with the school district ended June 30. Gooch said Bailey worked as a substitute from Oct. 1, 2014, to Oct. 5, 2014; as an instructional aide from Oct. 6, 2014 to June 10, 2015; and as a teacher from Aug. 7, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
It is illegal for a person employed as a teacher in a public or private K-12 school to engage in sexual contact with a student regardless of the student’s age. Bailey is free on a $15,000 bond and is ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Brent Haltom.