Marshalltown PD continues investigation of sexual exploitation at school district
Two teachers have been charged with sexual exploitation in a span of a week
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Updated: 10:24 PM CDT Jul 8, 2021
Two teachers have been charged with sexual exploitation in a span of a week
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Updated: 10:24 PM CDT Jul 8, 2021
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PUBLIC. WE’RE LEARNING MORE TONIGHT ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTOHE 2 MARSHALLTOWN TEACHERS NOW CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A STUDENT. THEY WERE ARRESTED WITHIN A WEEK OF EACOTHER.H BUT AS KCCI’S KAYLA JAMES SHOWS US INVESTIGATORS DON’T BELIEVE IT’S A COMMON PROBLEM. >> THERE’S BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ARE THEY DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB WHEN THEY LOOK AT EMPLOYEES BEFORE THEY HIRE THEM. KAYLA: WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXPLOITATION ALLEGATIONS IN MAHARSLLTOWN’S SCHOOL DISTRICT, POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL TUPPER KNOWS SEVERAL POINTS TO BERU T SO FAR, BACKGROUND CHECKS AREN’T THE PROBLEM, THESE CASES AREN’ CONNECTED, AND HE DOESN’T BELIEVE THIS IS THE START OF A BIGGER ISSUE >> I WAS TRYING TO THINK THIS MORNING HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER CASES WHERE WE FILED CHARGES AND I COUL’N'T COME UP WITH ANY. KAYLA: 42-YEAR-OLD ADAM EDGINGTON WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY. HE’S LISTED AS A MIDD SLECHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER ON THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE. THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT SAYS EDGINGTON ALLEGEDLY STARTED A RELATIONSHIP WITH A 13EA-YR-OLD, KISSING, TOUCHING, AND HOLDING HANDS WITH THE STUDENT. 26-YEAR-OLD MARK ESQUIVEL TAUGHT AT THE HIGH SCHO.OL HE’S CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CONCERNING A 17-YEAR-D.OL POLICE SAY HE ALLEGEYDL ATTEMPTED TO START A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENT, USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND TOUHR HIS PHONE. POLICE SAY BOTH REPORTS REWE MADE IN JUNE, BUT THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS HAPPENED THIS SCHOOL YEAR. SO THEY’RE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMELINES AS THEY CONTINUE THESE VERY TIAC INVESTIGATION. >> WE’VE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT I WOULD CALL WITNESSES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION. KAYLA: CEFHI TUPPER SAYS HE WANTS TO STRESS THIS ISN’T THE DISTRICT’S FAULT. HE SAYS THE FACT THAT ETH STUDENTS SPOKE UP SHOWS THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO DO SO. >> I’M PARENTA I SEND TWO KIDS TO THE MARSHALLTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT EVERY SCHOOL YEAR. I KNOW THAOUT R SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKS VERY HARD TO EDUCATEUR O KIDS AND ALSO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS. KAYLA: IN MARSHALLTOWN, KAAYL JAMES, KCCI 8 NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. STEVE: THE MARSHALLTOWN SCHOOL DISTCTRI DECLINED COMMENT TODAY CI TING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION. ESQUIVEL RESIGNED AFTER HIS ARREST. EDGINGTON IS NOW