PETERSBURG — Two Pike County school administrators were indicted Thursday on charges they knew a former teacher had sexually harassed students and did not tell authorities.
Pike County Superintendent D. John Thomas, 61, Petersburg and Pike Central High School Principal LeAnne Kelley, 46, 215 N.E. 11th St. were arrested and charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect, a Class B misdemeanor.
Kelley was charged with two counts and Thomas one by a Pike County grand jury Thursday. The two turned themselves in at the Pike County jail and were released on bond.
According to the Indiana State Police, both Kelley and Thomas knew that a former teacher, Luke Musselwhite, 26, Jasper, had an in appropriate relationship with a student and did not report it.
Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald could not comment on the specific case Friday but talked about the reason in general for the grand jury.
“Prosecutors routinely call grand juries when they feel like they need a community decision,” McDonald said.
McDonald also said in a press release by the Indiana State Police Thursday the grand jury indicted the two after several days of testimony.
“I can’t comment on any grand jury proceedings,” McDonald said. “I am so limited on what I can say about it.”
The prosecutor said he intends to take the case to trial if needed.
“Anything we file, we have full intentions of taking to trial,” McDonald said. “We don’t file unless we are ready to go to trial.”
Friday, Pike County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey L. Biesterveld recused himself and asked for a special judge to try the case.
Musselwhite was arrested on Sept. 2, 2008 by the state police for allegedly sending hundreds of text messages to a 17-year-old female student in 2007. In January, Musselwhite was further charged with battery for hitting another female student with a yardstick below the buttocks and perjury from false statements from the 2008 investigation.
The court documents from Kelley’s and Thomas’ charges alleges they knew Musselwhite was both having the inappropriate relationship and knew of the battery but did not say anything about it.
According to court documents from the first batch of charges against Musselwhite, an Indiana State Police detective wrote that notes obtained from Thomas’ files showed some of the text messages Musselwhite sent discussed “having a future together,” and “laying next to (each other).”
Musselwhite was suspended on Nov. 29, 2007, for a week by the school corporation with pay. The Pike County School Board reinstated Musselwhite in an executive session on Dec. 3, 2008.
Messages were left with Thomas at his home in Petersburg and Kelley. School Board President Gary Horrall declined to comment on the matter but said neither Kelley nor Thomas were on any suspension because of the case.
Kelley was an assistant principal at Washington High School until she took the Pike Central job. Thomas has been superintendent of Pike County schools since 2004.
Local News
Related Photos
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D. John Thomas, superintendent of Pike County Schools Photo by ISP
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LeAnne Kelley, principal of Pike Central High School Photo by ISP
Discussion
Pike Central School superintendent and principal indicted
Superintendent D. John Thomas, Principal LeAnne Kelly indicted for failing to report child abuse at Pike Central HS
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