MISSOURI
KCTV
By Laura McCallister, Multimedia Producer
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) –
A Catholic school band teacher and assistant band instructor have been fired after reports of alleged abuse.
A 53-year-old Catholic school teacher is in police custody after he allegedly groped a student’s breast on multiple occasions.
In a letter to families, St. Thomas More Elementary Principal Brian Borgmeyer said that a second person at the school is on leave after a separate incident. No charges have been filed.
St. Thomas More School Principal Brian Borgmeyer sent a letter to parents and guardians Thursday saying that Gregg Briggs and Tod Barnard have been fired after both men were placed on leave earlier in the month.
On March 14, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against 53-year-old Barnard after an 11-year-old student said he had groped her chest.
Barnard was charged with two counts of second-degree child molestation and two counts of third-degree assault, all misdemeanors.
Court documents said the student’s parents noticed she began exhibiting signs of anxiety about attending band class and they contacted the school when she unexpectedly told them she no longer wanted to participate in band activities. The girl told a counselor that she had been touched inappropriately by the band teacher’s assistant on several different occasions as far back as December, a police report stated.
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