NEWS
Wichita Falls’ Police arrest of two teachers focuses attention on reporting possible child abuse
By BARBARA GREEN
The separate arrests of two school principals in the Wichita Falls School District during the past two weeks on complaints of failure to report sexual assault of a minor has led to questions and discussion on the legal obligations school personnel and others have in reporting incidents involving minors.
The Kory Dorman, Wichita Falls Crockett Elementary principal, was arrested on Jan. 31 for failure to report- a Class A misdemeanor. The charge stems from a Dec. 15 alleged incident involving a seven-year-old boy whose grandparents said he had been assaulted by a fellow six-year-old student while in the bathroom. Principal. Dorman reportedly told police she delegated the responsibility of investigating these allegations to the school counselor.
The second arrest came on Feb. 5 when Cindy Underwood, principal at Kate Haynes Northwest Academy, was jailed on a similar charge of failing to report.
In Texas, anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report it.
Professional reporters are required to report allegations within 48 hours of first suspecting abuse or neglect. By law, professional may not delegate the duty to report to another person or entity or rely on another person or entity to make the report.
A professional reporter is anyone who is licensed or certified by the state or works for an agency or facility license or certified by the state and has contact with children as a result of their normal duties. This includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care workers, clinic or health care facility employees where reproductive services are provided, juvenile probation officers and juvenile detention or correction officers.
Denise Roberts, executive director of Patsy’s House Child Advocacy Center, said they are hoping to turn these arrests into educational opportunities.
“We hate that it happened like this, but if we can keep children at the front, make it about them, everyone can lear nsomething we are all better off in the end. Take this opportunity and move forward,” said Roberts.
Bowie Independent School District Superintendent Steven Monkres said the district conducts regular training programs on this topic.
The district is part of the Safe Schools program where each employee is required to train on modules available online before each school year starts. Principals and counselors also meet with the staff to further emphasize the laws and policies.
Monkres said the Wichita Falls incidents make everyone refocus their attention on those topics.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
Click below to follow the link to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – Reporting Abuse/Neglect: A Guide for Professionals
https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Reporting_Guide_School_Professionals.pdf
Click below to follow a link to the Bowie Independent School District policies regard reporting possible child abuse.
By BARBARA GREEN
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A petition was filed mid-week with the 97th District Clerk seeking the removal of 97th District Attorney Casey Hall for “incompetency or official misconduct.”
The document was filed by Tim Cole, former DA and longtime area attorney, on July 17. Texas law allows any resident of the county where the allegations occurred to file such a petition on any elected official.
As of Friday noon, no judge had been assigned and Hall had not been served notice of the filing per the district court.
A recent example of this type of petition occurred in Clay County in January 2023 after Sheriff Jeff Lyde was arrested on charges of official oppression. Former District Judge Frank Douthitt filed that petition and the state was represented by Hall and the Clay County attorney Seth Slagle.
Casey Hall, DA for the three-county 97th District since 2016, was arrested on July 8 on a grand jury indictment for theft of property $2,500 to $30,000, a state jail felony. She was released on a $5,000 bond. The allegations stem from misappropriation of state grant funds with the investigation conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s staff.
Removal action
The removal action is directed to David Evans, judge of the 8th administrative judicial region, which has jurisdiction in this case. It seeks to have the officer removed for incompetency or official misconduct, acts or omissions while in the performance of her duties as the district attorney.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
A missing person’s alert has been issued for Bryce Dingler, who was last seen July 16 at his parents’ home in Nocona around 10 p.m. as he left going home to his apartment in Plano.
The 29-year-old is the son of Dr. Len and Waynette Dingler of Nocona. According to missing person circulars posted by the Clay County Sheriff’s office and Put Me First, Dingler’s vehicle, a 2015 white Ford F150 lifted with large tires and Dallas Cowboy’s star on the tailgate was found on the side of U.S. Highway 287 in the early morning hours of July 17. His ID and phone were left in the truck.
The initial SO posting stated Dingler was at the courthouse Tuesday to midday, and he told his parents that night was he was heading home to Plano. His family tried to call him throughout Wednesday, but he never answered. It states his last known location was near Butler Road, 1 mile west of Jolly on U.S. 287. Those with any information are urged to call the Clay County Sheriff at 940-538-5611. Case #24010013.
The Put Me First circular stated a license plate reader picked up Dingler’s truck around midnight in Plano. He was wearing a light color T-shirt, dark grey athletic shorts and tennis shoes. He has a left lower arm sleeve with pine trees, leaves and a wolf. He is 5-foot-6-inches tall, 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
It continues the truck was spotted July 17 around 6:30 a.m. on the westbound side of U.S. 287 by Duck Creek. Put Me First states Dingler had a “promising job interview” the day he went missing, noting this is “not normal behavior.”
As of 2 p.m. Friday Dingler was still missing.
The regular meeting of the Bowie City Council for July 22 has been cancelled. City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris will be attending the Texas Public Power Association conference.
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