Austin Preschool Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 4-Year-Old In Bathroom [UPDATED]

AUSTIN, TX — A preschool teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl in a bathroom while the rest of the class took a nap, according to an arrest affidavit filed on Tuesday.

John Charles Arnold, 51, faces a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child punishable by a minimum of 25 years' imprisonment as a result of the charge.

According to a report in the Austin American-Statesman, the incident occurred Sept. 30 before the little girl reported the incident to her mother the following month. The girl told her mother the man had touched her genitals while she was using the bathroom, saying the man walked in and shut the door behind him while her friends were taking their naps, according to the affidavit cited by the newspaper.

The incident occurred at the Nature School of Austin, which is located at 6030 W. Highway 290 in the southwest portion of the city.

"The victim said that Arnold would ask what they were doing in the restroom and also make scary animal noises while they were in there," the affidavit reads in part. The girl then said Arnold touched her privates, and caused them to feel "bad."

Arnold has denied any wrongdoing, according to police.

The Statesman reached out to the Nature School for comment and was told by an employee there that Arnold didn't work there as a full-time teacher but instead had been involved in an “interview process.”

Per state law, the minimum punishment in a conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of six is 25 years in prison.

On the Nature School website, officials note they operate locations in both Austin and Dripping Springs. Officials describe their curriculum as being "...inspired by Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia philosophies" where "children enjoy a fun filled environment with sensorial, practical, and artistic activities." Their mission: "We are here to give your little ones the best possible environment for their learning and fun."

A check of the official State of Texas website on daycare, operated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Nature School of Austin has been cited seven times by officials in a span of two years for deficiencies categorized from high to low risk.

The most recent deficiency from Dec. 6, 2016, fell under the category of "renewal background checks submitted - No later than two years from the date of your most recently requested initial or renewal background check." The daycare was given two days to correct the deficiency, but inspectors wrote in a subsequent narrative that "One caregiver did not have the required renewal background check."

The report does not name the caregiver in that particular deficiency, although it was categorized in the "high" risk level.

In Oct. 14, state inspectors checked for compliance in the "Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - 8 hours Pre-service Training" category, giving operators until Oct. 28 to correct the "medium high" risk level deficiency. In a subsequent report, an inspector wrote that "During an investigation it was verified that a caregiver did not have the required pre-service training."

In another deficiency marked as "high" priority under the "Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children" category, an inspector noted that "A child was left unsupervised for approximately five minutes on the enclosed, safe outside playing area."

The previous January, the fire marshal conducted a site inspection, but corrections were reported as not having been made at the time. "The annual fire inspection was not conducted," a subsequent report reads. "The director made plans to have the inspection completed."

The remaining issues delved into matters of sanitation, access to emergency contacts and animals allowed at the facility. "Parents were not notified in writing that there were parakeets at the operation," an inspector wrote in reference to the latter.

Parents are urged to check the site in seeking a reputable daycare facility for their children. "Don't be in the dark about child care!" officials write on the page. "Before entrusting your child to a day care, check its state record."

To check for compliance history records at a particular day care facility, click here.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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