DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A judge in DeKalb County dropped a felony sexual assault charge for a paraprofessional accused of having an inappropriate interaction with a student.
The magistrate judge said the charge of sexual assault of a person in custody applies to teachers and not paraprofessionals such as Darrell Lake.
A detective testified Lake was caught on camera scanning the hallway of the school before leading the victim into a classroom.
“Mr. Lake came out, he checked the hallway to make sure it was clear,” the officer said.
A DeKalb County school police detective testified surveillance video at Cedar Grove High School showed Lake before he sexually assaulted a student in a classroom.
“You can see him allowing her into the classroom and he looks up and down the hallway and then returns back inside the classroom and closes the door,” the detective said in court Thursday.
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The detective then testified an assistant principal came in and saw the student with her pants and underwear down standing in front of Lake.
Lake told Channel 2's Liz Artz he had no idea the student would take off her clothes.
“I turn around, principal walks in and whoa, I observe a young lady with her pants down,” Lake said.
Police said the student told officers Lake forcefully removed her clothes.
Lake's attorney, Jackie Patterson, said she initially told police Lake never touched her inappropriately.
Police charged Lake with sexual assault of a person in custody.
Patterson argued the law did not apply.
“His job description was a paraprofessional. That excludes him completely from this charge,” Patterson said.
The judge agreed and dropped the felony charge.
She found enough evidence to charge Lake with misdemeanor sexual battery.
“We believe that charge won't stand at all. We're going to fight that charge to the end,” Patterson said.
Cox Media Group
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