MADISON, W.Va. — Potential victims in a sexual abuse case involving a Boone County teacher are being urged to contact state police.
Scott High teacher Brandon Arvay is currently in an Ohio jail awaiting extradition after charges were filed last week in connection with sexual relationships Arvay allegedly had with students. It’s the third Boone County school employee charged this year.
“Obviously, it’s something that is alarming and concerning to us. What I am happy with is our students are comfortable enough to come to us when issues arise,” Boone County Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Huffman told MetroNews Monday. “We are working hard to address these issues as they arise, very quickly and very diligently. To say this is an epidemic–I don’t know you could say that–but I would say it is alarming.”
Garth Mock, 43, was the principal at Van High School when he was charged April 3 with having sex with two students at his Charleston apartment. The charges were dismissed in April but Kanawha County prosecutors said they planned to take the case directly to a grand jury.
Police charged Sherman High School teacher Alan K. Robinson, Jr., 31, of Seth, last month with sexual abuse and soliciting with a computer.
Assistant Superintendent Huffman said Boone County follows state law when hiring personnel but it’s difficult to predict what may happen.
“We do everything that we can to assure our students’ safety. Unfortunately, we don’t have that crystal ball that we can look into to determine if someone has ill thoughts in regard to their actions,” Huffman said.
The explosion of social media and texting make people much more accessible “around the clock,” Huffman said.
“The accessibility does make it much more difficult.”
Huffman said parents need to be aware of social media activity.
“That doesn’t excuse anything that may have taken place but that is something I would encourage all parents to do,” he said.
State troopers believe there are potentially more victims in the Arvay case. He is awaiting extradition from the Medina County (OH) Jail where he was picked up last Thursday.