Cranston Teacher Charged with Assaulting Four Female Students

CRANSTON, RI — Charles Pearson, a Cranston West High School science teacher, is accused of sexually assaulting four female students, Cranston police say.

The school department has placed Pearson, 58, of Warwick, on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and court proceedings.

According to the police report, on March 24, the high school alerted the police about a complaint about the teacher. A female student told the administration and the school psychologist the male teacher had touched her inappropriately.

Cranston Police Special Victims Unit investigated the alleged sexual assault and learned that there were three additional victims.

"The alleged female victims range from fourteen to sixteen years of age," police said. "The alleged sexual assaults took place in the Cranston West High School between October 2016 and March 2017."

Pearson was charged with twelve (12) counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault and was arraigned at Cranston Police Headquarters Thursday evening. He was released on $75,000 personal recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the victims. Mr. Pearson is scheduled to appear for a June 1 hearing in district court.

Police ask anyone with any information about the case to contact the Cranston Police Department Special Victims Unit, Sgt. Lori Sweeney at (401) 477-5037 or Det. Michael Iacone at (401) 477-5062. Police can also be reached through the smartphone app, or anonymously through “TipSoft” at http://www/tipsubmit.com/webtipsstart.aspx, Col. Michael Winquist said.