Sexual Assault Of A Child Charges Against Teacher
KAUFMAN COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Officials with the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office are investigating claims of an improper relationship between a former high school teacher and a student.
James Michael Murphy of Kemp was arrested Tuesday and charged with an improper relationship between an educator and student and sexual assault of a child.
Murphy, who had been a teacher at Kaufman High School for nearly a decade, is no longer a Kaufman ISD employee. "He had been a Kaufman ISD employee for eight years, until yesterday morning. He came in and resigned voluntarily," explained Kaufman ISD superintendent Todd Williams.
Williams also said Murphy had no contact with students this school year. "He was placed on suspension on the first day of school, which was Monday, August 22, and this information came to light while we were doing that investigation."
Child Protective Services contacted authorities on Monday about the complaint against Murphy.
"The safety of children always comes first and we investigate all complaints that come from CPS vigorously, " Sheriff David A. Byrnes stated in a press release.
The offenses being investigated are thought to have involved a female student and taken place between March and May of 2011.
Murphy, 37, had worked, as an agriculture instructor at the high school, was a freshman class sponsor and Future Farmers of America (FFA) adviser.
After being booked on the charged Murphy was released on $50,000 bond.
