NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A veteran Fulton County social studies teacher is accused of molesting one of his students.
Fulton County Schools police tell Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik they arrested Timothy Benton, a 14 year employee of the district, May 27 after a student reported she was having an inappropriate relationship with the Crabapple Middle School teacher.
“Several counts of child molestation and enticing a student for indecent purposes,” Chief Felip Usury told Petchenik. “More inappropriate touching….it could have been a potential where there could have been some sort of sexual contact.”
An internal human resources report obtained by Petchenik shows school officials believe the relationship started in November 2013 and continued until May 23, when the student first reported the situation. The report said other staff members reported seeing Benton holding the girl’s hand, and that they witnessed her sitting on his lap behind his desk in an empty classroom.
The report said staff members witnessed the student visiting Benton before, during and after school in his classroom. It also said that on a class trip to Washington D.C., Benton often joined the student’s group even though he wasn’t her assigned chaperone.
The report said that Benton admitted to allowing the girl to skip class so she could spend time with him, that the two exchanged phone numbers to communicate inside and outside of school, and that he followed the girl on Instagram.
“He did not realize how close they were,” the report said Benton told school investigators.
An arrest report said that Benton admitted to kissing the girl on the lips and said that he was falling in love with the juvenile.
“He started to develop deep and affectionate feelings (for the student),” the report said.
“The alleged conduct is not tolerated by the district,” Usury said. “The district takes a strong stance on that particular issue.”
Benton is free from jail on a signature bond. Petchenik went to a possible address of Benton’s in Roswell, but nobody answered the door. He also attempted to call Benton at numbers he found in a public records search, but could not reach him.
Word of Benton’s arrest sent shockwaves through the middle school community and beyond.
“These are children you’re there to protect, not take advantage of,” said grandparent Carolyn Strickland.
WSBTV
