CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Two employees of the Harrison County school system have been charged in unrelated cases of sexual crimes against students.
State Police said they received a tip earlier this week about an aide at Clarksburg’s North View Elementary School who may have sexually abused a child. Friday, troopers obtained warrants and arrested Victor Chess, 50, on charges of first degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or person of trust, and sexual abuse by a school employee.
He was taken into custody after turning himself in at the Bridgeport Detachment of the West Virginia State Police. The victim in the case was a seven-year old female student.
Also Friday, in an unrelated case, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Courtney Rankin, 33, and charged her with sexual abuse of a 17-year old student.
Rankin was a teacher at Bridgeport High School and the victim was one of her students. Deputies said in an interview with the victim they learned he and Rankin struck up a relationship in her classroom. According to the teen, the relationship escalated to sexual encounters on 10 to 15 occasions at Rankin’s apartment in Marion County. Investigators said when confronted with the information Rankin confirmed what the victim had told them.
Rankin is free on bond. Harrison County school officials say she submitted her resignation and it’s expected to be taken up at the next Board of Education meeting.