An investigation into sex-related allegations against a Jacksonville man is nearing completion, authorities said.
Sherwood detectives arrested Tyson Norsworthy, 28, of 901 Elkhorn Court in Jacksonville on charges of sexual indecency with a child (a Class D felony) and first-degree sexual assault (a Class A felony).
The Sherwood Police Department hopes to complete its investigation this week of the sexual assault case against Norsworthy, a Sylvan Hills Middle School teacher, according to Sgt. Jim Calhoun, who leads the department’s criminal investigations unit.
“Once we are done with our investigation, we will be handing over the case to the county prosecutor’s office,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun said investigators are continuing to analyze some of the evidence to make sure there are no more alleged victims.
Calhoun declined to give detail on the nature of the evidence, saying he did not want to compromise the investigation.
Part of the investigation is to determine if allegations raised during police interviews with witnesses show that other employees at Sylvan Hills Middle School, Sylvan Hills High School or the Pulaski County Special School District knew that there were credible accusations being raised about Norsworthy before his arrest, Calhoun said.
Although allegations have been raised that some employees within the district knew about allegations against Norsworthy because a father made complaints about him, police said they have not yet found solid evidence that other school officials knew.
“We have not been able to substantiate those claims,” Calhoun said.
Carletta Wilson, district director of community affairs, said the district is interested in learning if anyone else knew there were questions being raised about Norsworthy.
Wilson said district policy is that if an employee knows that inappropriate behavior is taking place, he is to report it to a supervisor. However, if there is no credible evidence, then an employee is not required to report alleged conduct.
Wilson said if school employees know inappropriate behavior is taking place and they do not report it, disciplinary action can range from a reprimand to losing their job.
“It all depends on the circumstances of each case,” Wilson said.
Wilson said no action has been taken against Norsworthy because the district is waiting for police to finish its investigation.
Wilson said Norsworthy did not finish the school year in his teaching job at the middle school. His arrest did not lead to the suspension of his coaching duties at Sylvan Hills High School because he was not coaching at the time of his arrest.
Besides being a teacher at the middle school, he is a high school football coach.
During his appearance May 21 in Sherwood District Court, Norsworthy was barred from being at the middle school.
According to a press release issued by the Sherwood Police Department, Norsworthy has been released on $25,000 bail. |
