Ex-teacher at Archbishop Carroll High School in Dc Accused of Sexually Abusing Student

NBC Washington
December 3, 2016

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Ex-Teacher-at-Archbishop-Carroll-High-School-in-DC-Accused-of-Sexually-Abusing-Student-404372546.html

[with video]

A teacher and coach at Archbishop Carroll High School in Northeast D.C. has been fired after police arrested him on charges he sexually abused a student at the school.

Jimmy Augustin, 33, is accused of having "sexual contact" with a 17-year-old girl at least two separate times, once in early September and another time at the end of October. Both incidents happened at the Catholic school at 4300 Harewood Rd. NE, police said.

Augustin, of Fort Washington, Maryland, was arrested on Thursday and charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse of a minor, police said.

He was listed as "Head Athletic Trainer" and "Science Teacher" on the school's website.

According to court documents, Augustin and the student denied anything inappropriate happened.

Investigators obtained text messages from the student's phone and found Augustin discussed sexual activities with the girl, the documents said. After the discovery, police said the student admitted she and Augustin had "intimate hugs" and kissed in an office at the school.

The school has fired Augustin. Archbishop Carroll High School said in a statement that Augustin cleared a background check and other requirements when he was hired.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called on Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., to further investigate the alleged abuse.

"Wuerl should insist that school officials write to every single current and former student and staff person who might have had contact with Augustin, begging them to seek out others with information or suspicions about these serious allegations," SNAP said in a statement. "He should use church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements throughout the archdiocese in the same way."

Read the school's entire statement below:

"Archbishop Carroll High School and the Archdiocese of Washington take seriously the responsibility of protecting the children entrusted to their care. The Child Protection Policy of the Archdiocese of Washington mandates criminal background checks, applications and education for all employees and volunteers who work with young people. Mr. Augustin cleared the background check and accompanying requirements. The policy also mandates an employee’s/volunteer’s removal from work following a credible allegation. This requirement was also met in this case; Mr. Augustin was removed from work immediately following a credible allegation; Archbishop Carroll subsequently terminated his employment. The school also immediately contacted the Child Protection Office of the Archdiocese of Washington and involved the police."