Cranston School Psychologist Arrested: Police Allege He Failed To Report Sexual Assault Complaint

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston West's school psychologist, George Blessing, 48, turned himself in to police on Tuesday afternoon, according to Police Chief Col. Michael Winquist. He is charged with "failing to fulfill his legal obligation to report to authorities that a female student had disclosed to him that she had been sexually assaulted by a teacher," police said.

According to the police, the school staff notified officers on March 24 about a complaint from a female student who reported a male science teacher assaulted her. The teacher, Charles Pearson, was arrested for second-degree sexual assault (inappropriate touching). He was charged with 12 counts after three other alleged victims spoke up, police said.

But an investigation indicated the first student "had previously reported the assault to a school psychologist identified as George Blessing on or about February 1," police said.

"It is alleged Mr. Blessing failed to report these allegations of sexual assault and did not divulge this information until the victim and Mr. Blessing was approached by school administrators and detectives on March 24.

"The Cranston Police Special Victims Unit investigated the alleged sexual assault and learned that there were three (3) additional victims. The alleged female victims range from fourteen to sixteen years of age. The alleged sexual assaults took place in the Cranston West High School between October 2016 and March 2017. One of the sexual assaults took place on or about March 16, 2017, weeks after the first student had reported the alleged sexual assault to Mr. Blessing."

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Blessing, Winquist said, and he was arraigned Tuesday afternoon by a bail commissioner on a misdemeanor charge of “Duty to Report Sexual Abuse of a Child in an Educational Program.”

Blessing was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and scheduled to appear in the Third District Court for a pre-trial hearing on April 18.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sgt. Lori Sweeney (401) 477-5037, Detective Michael Iacone (401) 477-5062 or Detective Dan Lee (401) 477-5188 of the Cranston Police Department Special Victims Unit. Or contact police through the smartphone app or anonymously through “TipSoft” at http://www/tipsubmit.com/webtipsstart.aspx