Former LH principal’s bond set at $250,000

A retired Lake Hamilton Middle School principal who was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting one of his former students again last week pleaded not guilty to the new charge during a hearing in Garland County District Court on Friday.

The hearing was initially set for Thursday for Lester Dewayne Curry, 61, of Glenwood, but was postponed to Friday because special prosecutor John “Jack” S. McQuary, of Benton, could not attend Thursday. McQuary was appointed special prosecutor in July, but the order appointing him does not state the reason why a special prosecutor was requested.

Curry, who was charged Tuesday with a second count of sexual indecency with a child, appeared via video with his attorney, Brent Miller, present in the courtroom. Bond was set at $250,000 for Curry, who was being held on zero bond. Curry would also be re-

quired to wear a GPS monitor if released, according to a docket entry.

The docket entry also indicated that Curry was advised that the penalty for violating the no contact order was “contact jail, no contact no jail.”

Judge David Switzer also entered a new no contact order for Curry related to the victim and the victim’s family, and a new order limiting pretrial publicity.

According to an affidavit, the 14-year-old was interviewed at the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center Monday and disclosed details of Curry sexually assaulting her during a meeting at the corner of a road in a residential area off Highway 70 west at around 8 a.m. Nov. 23. She said Curry had contacted her through a fake Instagram account despite a previous no contact order.

Curry was first arrested on June 3 on felony counts of second-degree sexual assault, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and sexual indecency with a child, punishable by up to six years. He was later released on $7,500 bond.

Curry was interviewed May 25 at the Garland County Sheriff’s Department and reportedly denied the allegations of kissing and putting his hands on the student’s buttocks while at the school. He allegedly admitted to calling, texting, emailing and direct messaging the student on Instagram, but denied having sexual conversations with her, the affidavit said.

Curry submitted his resignation on May 26, the day after he was interviewed by investigators. His retirement became effective June 30.