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Dekalb County teacher charged with rape www.privateofficer.com
Source: CBS NEWS — DeKalb County Schools didn’t know they had a teacher arrested on charges of aggravated child molestation and statutory rape until CBS Atlanta News told them.
Stephenson Middle School Spanish teacher Rafer Lamar Grier is charged with four counts of aggravated child molestation and one count of statutory rape that allegedly happened in 2008. Grier was not arrested and jailed until Feb. 5 of this year; the whole time he was teaching young students.
CBS Atlanta News asked the tough questions to the DeKalb County School District about why they didn’t know about the accusations against one of their own teachers.
A spokesman with the DeKalb County School district said they couldn’t have known about the accusations of molestation and rape against Grier unless he or someone else came forward to tell them about it.
In a statement to CBS Atlanta News from the DeKalb County School District, they said:
“The DeKalb County School District learned of the arrest of Mr. Grier after receiving the media inquiry from Channel 46 and subsequently researching the DeKalb Jail web site.”
The school district goes on to say:
“The school district is extremely shocked and disappointed by these charges and will undertake swift and appropriate action, allowed by law, pending disposition by the courts on this matter.”
It is not known if any students were involved.
The school district says Grier has worked for DeKalb County schools since 2000.
Parents CBS Atlanta News talked to said they just wished someone would have told them about the serious accusations facing a teacher who spends his time surrounded by their children.
“I feel they should have sent us a letter or something stating that this is going on or something to that fact,” said Carolyn Banks.
Banks has a daughter in the seventh grade at Stephenson Middle School. She said the accusations against Grier are shocking.
“It kind of stunned me because we’re not aware this is going on, and nobody else informed us about it,” said Banks.
A spokesman from the school district said they do not plan to formally notify parents about the arrest unless a conviction is made.
Grier’s next court date is set for Feb. 16.
