Teacher arrested for sexual abuse

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County Middle School Teacher Charles Lewis was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 9-year-old boy. Just nine days earlier, Lewis was arrested for DUI.

On January 4, just one day before Mobile County students returned from the holiday break, Charles Lewis, Jr. was arrested in Baldwin County for DUI.

Lewis is a science teacher at Causey Middle School. He has not been back to school since that arrest. Baldwin County deputies tell Fox 10 News Lewis' DUI charge triggered an investigation into much more serious allegations.

Tuesday night, Lewis was arrested in Summerdale and charged with sex abuse against a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

"He has taught 6th grade science since the school opened. He was teacher of the year just last year and this has just been a total surprise," said Causey Middle School Principal Mary Wood.

Wood said she couldn't believe Lewis was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 9-year-old child. The child is not a student at Causey Middle School.

The child told authorities Lewis had given him alcohol and touched him inappropriately in July 2009. Investigators said Lewis admitted touching the boy, but Lewis claimed it was not intentional.

Wood said she has never had any complaints about Lewis, only praise from parents and students.

Fox 10 News asked Wood if she thought any Causey students may have been victimized by Lewis since 2001 when he came on board as a science teacher.
 

"Well, that is always a possibility. But at this point, we don't know anything about that," Wood said.

Mobile County School central office also said they had no record of complaints against Lewis. But a Causey parent is disputing that claim. The parent told Fox 10 News she filed a formal complaint against Lewis in September with Causey Middle School and with Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols office.

Fox 10 News is investigating this story in depth and hopes to have answers and explanations as to why there are conflicting stories between parents and school officials.