A 14-year-old Colorado student who told school leaders she had been sexually assaulted by a teacher was suspended, and forced to apologize to the accused teacher and hug him, according to a Wednesday, Jan. 10 indictment.
The school leaders, named as Principal David Gonzales, Vice Principal Adrienne “AJ” MacIntosh, and counselor Cheryl Somers-Wegienka, are facing a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse or neglect.
The school-led investigation included questioning the girl while Vasquez was in the room.
The trio of school officials allegedly told the unnamed girl that her claims could damage Vasquez’s family and career, and that he was a “valued teacher.” After that, she retracted the accusations and was eventually suspended for lying.
Vice Principal MacIntosh claims she has no recollection of the student (referred to as “CV” or “child victim” in the indictment) reporting the alleged assault.
Former social studies teacher Vasquez was first charged in August last year for sexually abusing multiple girls between 2013 and 2017.
The 34-year-old has a history of molesting his students and faces 37 counts relating to sexual contact and sexual communication with teenage girls, including raping a 15-year-old student in 2016 and 2017 and exchanging graphic images with a 15-year-old in 2015.
If true, the recent indictment could explain why he had not been caught earlier—it appears that school leaders were helping him conceal his actions.
Somers, who is named in the legal proceedings, no longer works for the district.