An investigation is underway after claims are made of sexual misconduct between 2nd grade students at a Jefferson Elementary School in Manistee. The alleged victim’s mother contacted 7&4 News wanting to get her side of the story out. To protect the alleged victim, we are not releasing the mother’s name.
She says “they came up behind and held his arms down the other boys pulled his pants down exposing his private parts.”
Then according to the mother, the situation got much worse. What may have started out as inappropriate led to what officers describe as sexual conduct. The mother says “he said it hurt so bad he tried to get away but they were just too strong. He was screaming for help.”
The mother says this wasn’t the only or most serious incident to take place in class. “They have robbed my child of his innocence” she says.
The school district’s acting superintendent, Howard Vaas, was notified about the alleged incidents. “There is nothing normal about any of this” says Vaas.
The Manistee City Police Department says the school district is cooperating with the department’s investigation. “It’s still under investigation but we certainly want to do everything we can to provide a safe environment for our kids.”
All parents at Jefferson Elementary were given a letter detailing the police department’s ongoing investigation. The letter states the alleged sexual misconduct involved five students. The school describes it as an “isolated incident involving students only, but are concerned that other students may have observed what happened”.
In the meantime, the school has taken action against the accused. Vaas says "there were some students that have been temporarily suspended from school as a result of these allegations.
The acting superintendent says he expects the investigation to wrap up sometime next week. Manistee City Police Chief David Bachman tells 7&4 an update from his office could come as early as Monday afternoon.
