Details Of Sex Abuse Involving Teacher Of The Year

Mobile County's school superintendent admits the school district bears some responsibility for not noticing a pattern of complaints against a Causey Middle School teacher arrested last week on a sexual abuse charge.

For the first time since Charles Lewis Jr., 50, was arrested January 12th, Dr. Roy Nichols acknowledged complaints against the teacher may have been mishandled.

"The thing that I'm mostly concerned about is where our system broke down," said Nichols talking to reporters Tuesday afternoon. "Everybody up and down the chian of command, including myself, will be scrutinized."

Immediately after Lewis' arrest, school officials expressed shock about allegations that he inappropriately touched a 9 year old boy. Officials claimed they had never received complaints about the sixth grade science teacher, prompting multiple parents to come forward saying that's not true.
One mother, who outlined her complaint in a letter to Causey Middle School's principal last September, claimed Lewis exposed himself to her 11-year-old son while the teacher changed out of an astronaut costume in a classroom closet.

Nichols insists the school district is conducting an internal investigation to find out who knew about the prior complaints.

Meanwhile, News Five continues to dig for new details about what allegedly happened at Lewis' house. According to an arrest affidavit filed in Baldwin County District Court, investigators believe Lewis touched the naked genitals of a child, who the Baldwin County sheriff's office said is a family friend. The affidavit says Lewis then forced the child to touch him in the same way. According to the document, Lewis then rubbed his body against the child while neither were wearing pants.

Shortly after the arrest, investigators said Lewis admitted to touching the child, but said it was not intentional.

Lewis, who is on paid leave from the school, is out of jail on $60,000 bond.