Ex-Gravette teacher charged in another sexual assault case
BENTONVILLE — A former Gravette teacher already accused of a sex crime involving a student has been charged with sexually assaulting another boy.
Harry Don Almond, 63, of Bella Vista, initially was charged with second-degree sexual assault, a felony.
Prosecutors filed another count of second-degree sexual assault against Almond on Wednesday. Almond later appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Almond, who was arrested Oct. 27, is free on $30,000 bond.
Almond is accused of engaging in sexual contact with both boys by forcible compulsion, according to court documents.
Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, declined to comment on whether the second boy was a student of Almond’s. Cearley said police learned of the second boy while conducting their initial investigation.
In the first incident, a student who wanted to earn extra money agreed to help Almond move, according to a probable cause affidavit. The student went to Almond’s home on Oct. 26, 2015, to help with the move, according to the affidavit.
The student later told police they took a break and were sitting on a couch when Almond exposed the student’s stomach and went to unfasten his pants, the affidavit states. The student told police Almond touched him inappropriately, according to court documents.
Police later recorded a telephone conversation between the student and Almond, who admitted touching the student inappropriately, but urged the student not to say anything about the incident, the affidavit states.
Almond told police he wanted to try to teach the student a lesson about what could happen at parties, according to court documents.
Almond resigned his position at Gravette High School.