A Lancaster High School music teacher is on administrative leave after being accused of sexually touching a minor.
Assistant Band Director DeShawn Darrell Parks, 39, was arrested on October 10 and charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Parks has worked for Lancaster Independent School District for more than 10 years.
According to a district statement sent to band families on October 11, Parks’ arrest followed a criminal investigation conducted by the Lancaster ISD Police Department.
“While our district’s privacy policies prohibit us from discussing specific personnel matters, I want to assure you that Lancaster ISD immediately reported the situation to law enforcement and has fully cooperated throughout the investigation,” the statement read.
The statement (which misspelled Parks’ first name as “Dashawn”) said the district wanted to share the information with band families directly, “as local media outlets may also report on this matter.”
The district added that it had already contacted “individuals directly impacted by this situation.” No information about the alleged victim was provided.
Parks was booked into the Dallas County Jail on October 11 and later released on a $15,000 bond.
State records show Parks has been certified to teach music since 2013. His current teaching certificate is under review by the Texas Education Agency.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas school employees have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other minors. Thousands have been reported to the TEA for educator sexual misconduct.
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