Three educators arrested for child grooming and abuse at Arlington school
- A police report from Arlington reveals allegations of child grooming involving educators at Newman International Academy, including Ruel Barbee.
- Both Barbee and Gabrielle Little have been arrested, while the former principal, Rick Adams, is facing charges for tampering with evidence.
- This ongoing investigation could expand to other schools, highlighting systemic issues in handling abuse allegations.
In Arlington, Texas, an investigation into allegations of child grooming and sexual abuse began at the Newman International Academy's Gibbons campus, which serves 7th to 12th graders. The investigation gained momentum after a 12th-grade student reported that Ruel Barbee, a 53-year-old teacher, had inappropriately kissed her multiple times and shared explicit videos and images. Following these reports, Barbee was arrested on February 10, along with 22-year-old Gabrielle Little, who was charged with child grooming. The investigation extended to Rick Adams, the former principal, who resigned after being accused of tampering with evidence, including deleting critical emails related to the inquiry. This alarming situation has highlighted failures in other educational institutions within the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where similar allegations emerged, yet actions were not taken. The district's police chief emphasized the urgency of revealing all misconduct linked to the educators, stating that nothing would be overlooked. The Arlington school's administration is currently facing scrutiny for how it handled the allegations and what measures were taken to protect students. Two 7th-grade girls also reported incidents to police, initiating a swift investigation. Barbee was arrested shortly after their disclosures, within hours, reflecting the authorities' commitment to addressing these severe accusations promptly. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are anticipated as police delve deeper into incidents involving other educators and different schools. Following these revelations, both Barbee and Little were immediately terminated from their positions, while Adams was placed on administrative leave before resigning. The district's assistant superintendent expressed the emotional impact on the education community while announcing changes in leadership due to the scandal. This case has raised questions about the safety protocols in schools and has sparked outrage among parents and educators in the community, urging a thorough investigation into not only this charter school but also potentially others that may have mishandled similar allegations.