Cranston teacher charged with touching female students

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) - A science teacher at Cranston West High School has been accused of inappropriately touching four female students.

Cranston Police announced Thursday that Charles Pearson of Warwick has been charged with 12 counts of second-degree sexual assault. The 58-year-old has been placed on administrative leave.

The Providence Journal reported (https://bit.ly/2noTIum ) Pearson was arraigned at police headquarters Thursday evening and released on a promise to have no contact with the alleged victims. He’s scheduled to appear in Providence District Court on June 1.

A phone number was not listed for Pearson.

Police said the high school contacted them March 24 to report a female student had complained about a science teacher touching her inappropriately. Cranston police later found three other girls with similar allegations. They range in age from 14-to-16 years old.

___

Information from: The Providence Journal, https://www.providencejournal.com