Lockdown lifted at 2 Asheville schools; investigation into possible shooting continues, police say. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. “With regard to the incident at Asheville School we are aware of the allegations and confirm that there is an ongoing investigation,” Williams told the Citizen Times. Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams said that there is an active investigation into an alleged sexual assault of a student at Asheville School. The new plaintiff was enrolled at Asheville School at about the same time and left at the end of 11th grade in 1970. Mike Hill was chair of Asheville School’s math department for nearly 17 years and filed a complaint in July 2020 with the school administration. She said she withdrew from the school because she didn’t feel safe knowing the alleged perpetrator was still enrolled. Led by head of Asheville School Anthony Sgro, a 1984 alum, and board of trustees chair, Walter Cox Jr., a 1972 alum, the school undertook a federally-required Title IX investigation in July 2020, conducted by school fundraiser Ashly Maag. On Oct. 9, Asheville School fundraiser Ashly Maag, who investigated and also wrote the final decision in the Title IX report, found no fault with the boy, who admitted what he did to Agnes in a sworn affidavit. Related: Reports of child sexual abuse rise sharply in Asheville, Buncombe County. Shooting did not happen at school, police confirm Asheville Police concluded a four-month investigation into the alleged 2019 sexual assault of Agnes Hill, who was then a 15-year-old freshman at Asheville School, said police … The campus was named by Architectural Digest magazine in 2018 as the most beautiful private school campus in North Carolina. “A spouse of an employee currently serves in a leadership capacity at Asheville School,” Williams cited as the source conflict. Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. Williams did not respond to a question of whether his office is automatically disqualified from handling any future cases, including felonies, against Asheville School, which operates as a nonprofit with $96 million in assets. The law, which went into effect Dec. 1, 2019, makes it mandatory for any adult “who knows or should have reasonably known that a juvenile has been or is the victim of a violent offense, sexual offense, or misdemeanor child abuse,” to report the incident to law enforcement. Ball was presenting the case Feb. 23 to Newman. With the number of reported campus sexual assault allegations now at four, Asheville School has retained a private investigation firm to handle calls from victims, but experts are leery of the school’s intentions. Led by head of Asheville School Anthony Sgro, a 1984 alum, and board of trustees chair, Walter Cox Jr., a 1972 alum, the school undertook a federally-required Title IX investigation … Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about. At Asheville School, you’ll live and learn with students from all over the world. If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them. Asheville School Title IX sexual assault investigation had 'indelible taint', says alumni group Asheville School Alumni Association Committee report finds the school's Title IX investigation into an alleged sexual assault flawed and biased. Asheville School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. A Title IX investigation into the incident, conducted by one of Asheville School’s fundraisers, Ashly Maag, found no fault with the boy in the final report, issued Oct. 9. Karen Chávez has worked as a journalist for 25 years, including as an editor and reporter since 2000s for the Asheville Citizen Times and USA TODAY Network. Hallingse said police learned of the conflict as Det. Agnes Hill, now 17 and a former student at the $63,000-a-year, private, boarding school, alleges she was sexually assaulted in May 2019 by an older, male student on campus when she was a 15-year-old freshman. Hello, I respectively request copies of emails sent by Asheville City School Staff referencing concerns of over payment of monies paid to Sgt., Quentin Edward Miller for off duty security work at Asheville City Schools Athletic events. Email her at KChavez@CitizenTimes.com or follow on Twitter @KarenChavezACT. “This matter has been conflicted out of the office to ensure that a neutral review of the case file may be completed that is free of any conflict, potential conflict, or perceived conflict,” Williams said in a Feb. 22 email to the Citizen Times. The campus sits on 300 acres (120 ha) amid the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and currently enrolls 295 students in grades nine through twelve. Asheville School hires NYC private investigation firm to handle alumni sex assault claims Karen Chávez has been a journalist for 25 years, including as an editor and reporter for the past 20 years for the Asheville Citizen Times and USA TODAY Network. Hallingse said that Det. Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams (Photo: Provided by Todd Williams). Comprising mostly alumni and parents who donate heavily to the school, the committee in January found the school conducted the investigation properly. Asheville School is a private, coeducational, University-preparatory boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina founded in 1900. The Asheville Police Department responded to a report of shots fired on Black Street around 11 a. m. Tuesday, Sept 10, 2019. Newman did not respond to questions Feb. 22 from the Citizen Times. Asheville Police conclude four-month Asheville School sexual assault investigation; Buncombe County DA cites conflict of interest in pursuing charges. In July 2019, a disciplinary committee filed a complaint saying Newman failed to notify the victim of a court proceeding in a 2015 rape case, even though he told a judge that the victim was notified and did not want to be heard. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Another Asheville School alum filed a lawsuit March 2 claiming he suffered sexual abuse by a former teacher and that school administrators knew. Asheville School was required to conduct the federal investigation because it had accepted between $1-2 million in Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loans under the CARES Act to help small businesses protect employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in. She then told her parents, Mike and Moni Hill. Related: Buncombe County DA: Investigation underway into alleged Asheville School sexual assault. Asheville School hires NYC private investigation firm to handle alumni sex assault claims. Cox convened an internal ad hoc committee to investigate the school’s Title IX investigation. While there are exceptions for attorneys, licensed or certified social workers, and agents of rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, school personnel are not exempt. You will need to register before adding a comment. Videos from Asheville School, a nationally acclaimed co-ed boarding and day school in Asheville, North Carolina for students in grades 9-12. In a press release, school officials say they are cooperating with police in what is the very early stages of an ongoing investigation. Joe Silberman, who is over criminal investigation but did not speak about the Asheville School case in particular, said while the mandatory reporting law applies specifically to adults, anyone can come forward if they see or suspect a child being mistreated, including the child themselves. For subscribers: Teen says sexual assault happened at elite Asheville School. North Carolina- Asheville School hires NYC private investigation firm to handle alumni sex assault claims Asheville police say a social media threat was brought to their attention by a school resource officer on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. Newman was recently disciplined by the N.C. State Bar for his actions in a rape case. The state bar issued Newman a three-year stayed suspension in November, allowing him to practice law as long as he follows certain conditions. Please be polite. Hill, now 17, alleges she was sexually assaulted by an older male student at the elite, $63,000-a-year private boarding school in West Asheville, on the field hockey field one afternoon in May 2019, just after final exams. The investigation began when Hill filed a police report Oct. 27. Email her at KChavez@CitizenTimes.com or follow on Twitter @KarenChavezACT, Teen says sexual assault happened at Asheville School, Amid sex assault allegations, Asheville School alumni call for school head, board chair to resign, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The boy, who is now 18, withdrew from Asheville School sometime around the new year, according to his criminal defense attorney. An Asheville School ad hoc committee cleared the school in its handling of its Title IX investigation into a May 2019 alleged sexual assault against Agnes Hill, then a 15-year-old freshman. Asheville Police concluded a four-month investigation into the alleged 2019 sexual assault of Agnes Hill, who was then a 15-year-old freshman at Asheville School, said police spokeswoman Christina Hallingse. "Although we are a bit confused by the decision to give this to another DA’s office after all these months, we are committed to justice. An Asheville School ad hoc committee cleared the school in its handling of its Title IX investigation into a May 2019 alleged sexual assault against Agnes Hill, then a 15-year-old freshman. Message: “Asheville N.C. City School system . Asheville School hires NYC private investigation firm to handle alumni sex assault claims With the number of reported campus sexual assault allegations now at four, Asheville School has retained a private investigation firm to handle calls from victims, but experts are leery of the school’s intentions. Albert Ball was ready to present it to Williams. All rights reserved. Asheville Police Department officials confirmed an investigation into a sex offense involving a Western North Carolina principal is underway. Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams said his office will not pursue charges in the case due to a conflict of interest and has referred the police report to Henderson County District Attorney Greg Newman. For subscribers: Teen says sexual assault happened at Asheville School. Asheville Police Capt. ", More: Amid sex assault allegations, Asheville School alumni call for school head, board chair to resign. (Photo: Angela Wilhelm/awilhelm@citizentimes.com). Organization Information Organization Submitting BID NotificationCity of Asheville BID Information BID Due Time3:00 pm BID Due Date05/12/2021 BID Location Street Address70 Court Plaza Suite 100C, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801 Project Information Project TitleFire Investigation Equipment Is this Disaster Related (Preparation, Response, or Recovery)?No D.A. The entrance to Asheville School January 25, 2021. He told the Citizen Times on Jan. 5 that the DA's office “stands ready to prosecute cases of non-compliance with the new mandated reporter law,” regarding the 2019 measure requiring any adult with knowledge of possible sexual violence against a child to report it to law enforcement. Williams said he did not receive or review the investigation. This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you. (Photo: Angela Wilhelm/awilhelm@citizentimes.com). Answer Man: Old Applebee's being transformed? Leigh Ruhl, Asheville School spokesperson, said Jan. 5 that the school "is fully cooperating with the Asheville Police Department investigation. To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs. Williams said he discovered the conflict sometime between Jan. 5 and last week but was not more specific. Henderson County District Attorney Greg Newman (Photo: Citizen Times file photo). It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban. “The District Attorney’s Office stands ready to prosecute cases of non-compliance with the new mandated reporter law,” Williams said. "We were going over there to bring them the case, and we learned that there was a conflict, so that they couldn't take the case," Hallingse said. © 2021 www.citizen-times.com. DA: Criminal investigation at Asheville School Citizen Times 10:01 7-Jan-21 Trump and his GOP enablers fueled a Capitol coup attempt The Charlotte Observer 05:09 7-Jan-21 A mob. Read or Share this story: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2021/02/23/asheville-school-sex-assault-case-buncombe-da-williams-makes-decision/4538959001/, (Photo: Angela Wilhelm/awilhelm@citizentimes.com), Teen says sexual assault happened at elite Asheville School, sexual violence against a child to report it to law enforcement, Buncombe County DA: Investigation underway into alleged Asheville School sexual assault, Reports of child sexual abuse rise sharply in Asheville, Buncombe County, Amid sex assault allegations, Asheville School alumni call for school head, board chair to resign, Faculty at Asheville School must speak out after being asked to 'move forward', Alleging sexual abuse by two teachers, Asheville School alum sues prestigious boarding school, Ex-Buncombe commissioner sentenced for corruption, 'Praise God': Victims' families react to Newman removal, Man critically injured after shooting at apartments, Great Smokies synchronous fireflies return, Asheville police look for man they say is armed and dangerous. 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