New Orleans police arrested a band instructor at McDonogh 35 High School Monday evening on charges of having sex with a 14-year-old girl and contributing to the delinquency of other teenage students from the school, officials said.
Patrick Williams, 33, an assistant band instructor, allegedly brought four students to a home in eastern New Orleans on Oct. 24, said New Orleans Police Department Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo. There, the students -- two 14-year-old girls and boys aged 15 and 17 -- engaged in or witnessed various sex acts, Defillo said.
Williams is accused of having sex with one of the girls. He was booked into the Orleans Parish jail with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, conspiring to commit felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles.
Defillo said police learned of the matter just days ago, when one of the girls told her mother what happened during a heart-to-heart conversation. Her mother brought the matter to the attention of the Police Department's child abuse investigators, Defillo said.
As of Tuesday evening, Williams was being held in the Orleans Parish jail without bond. He likely will have his first court appearance today to determine whether he is eligible for bail.
In a written statement, the Orleans Parish School Board referred to Williams as a contract worker hired to assist the band director at the school. They said Williams' contract has been terminated pending the outcome of the police investigation. They also said school staff members have interviewed students involved in the allegations, along with their parents.
Counseling is available today for all McDonogh 35 students, the statement added.
Investigators still are trying to determine whether Williams had inappropriate contact with any other students. Defillo also said police are trying to determine whether the 17-year-old should face charges, although he added that the teenage girls said he was not involved in any sexual activity.
McDonogh 35, which serves grades seven through 12, is at 1331 Kerlerec St. in Treme and is one of five schools directly operated by the Orleans Parish School Board.
A musician and an educator familiar with Williams each said that he worked as an assistant band director at a few schools before Hurricane Katrina, including Woodson Middle School, which closed after Katrina, and John McDonogh High School. A spokesman for the School Board confirmed that Williams has worked at McDonogh 35 since the storm and before Katrina was an assistant band instructor at John McDonogh.
The musician said Williams plays harmonica with Rockin' Dopsie Jr., and that he has served as assistant band director and drum instructor at most of the schools where he has worked.
Patrick Williams, 33, an assistant band instructor, allegedly brought four students to a home in eastern New Orleans on Oct. 24, said New Orleans Police Department Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo. There, the students -- two 14-year-old girls and boys aged 15 and 17 -- engaged in or witnessed various sex acts, Defillo said.
Williams is accused of having sex with one of the girls. He was booked into the Orleans Parish jail with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, conspiring to commit felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles.
Defillo said police learned of the matter just days ago, when one of the girls told her mother what happened during a heart-to-heart conversation. Her mother brought the matter to the attention of the Police Department's child abuse investigators, Defillo said.
As of Tuesday evening, Williams was being held in the Orleans Parish jail without bond. He likely will have his first court appearance today to determine whether he is eligible for bail.
In a written statement, the Orleans Parish School Board referred to Williams as a contract worker hired to assist the band director at the school. They said Williams' contract has been terminated pending the outcome of the police investigation. They also said school staff members have interviewed students involved in the allegations, along with their parents.
Counseling is available today for all McDonogh 35 students, the statement added.
Investigators still are trying to determine whether Williams had inappropriate contact with any other students. Defillo also said police are trying to determine whether the 17-year-old should face charges, although he added that the teenage girls said he was not involved in any sexual activity.
McDonogh 35, which serves grades seven through 12, is at 1331 Kerlerec St. in Treme and is one of five schools directly operated by the Orleans Parish School Board.
A musician and an educator familiar with Williams each said that he worked as an assistant band director at a few schools before Hurricane Katrina, including Woodson Middle School, which closed after Katrina, and John McDonogh High School. A spokesman for the School Board confirmed that Williams has worked at McDonogh 35 since the storm and before Katrina was an assistant band instructor at John McDonogh.
The musician said Williams plays harmonica with Rockin' Dopsie Jr., and that he has served as assistant band director and drum instructor at most of the schools where he has worked.
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