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Sunday, August 16, 2015

Sexual Assault Charges On Worcester County Teacher

DATE: August 13, 2015
CBI Case # 15-0101

LOCATION: Pocomoke Middle School
Pocomoke, MD

CHARGES: Sexual Abuse of a Minor (6 counts)
3rd degree sex offense (6 counts)
2nd degree sex offense (6 counts)
2nd degree assault (6 counts)


ACCUSED: William Albert CATHELL, Jr. W/M 42yoa
Parksley, VA

NARRATIVE: On June 16, 2015 an investigation was initiated by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation regarding the alleged inappropriate touching of female students at the Pocomoke Middle School by one of the teachers.

It was reported that the accused, William Albert Cathell, Jr., a Spanish/foreign language teacher at the school, had sexually assaulted several female students during school hours. The victims were between 12 and 13 years of age at the time of the offense.

Investigators worked with the Worcester County Board of Education and, following interviews with students at the school, four victims were identified. Two of the victims were allegedly assaulted by the accused on more than one occasion. Cathell has been a teacher in Worcester County for the past 10 years.

A total of six separate events reportedly occurred on the school grounds over a two year period. As a result of the investigation, multiple charges were filed against Cathell including: sexual abuse of a minor, 3rd degree sex offense, 4th degree sex offense, and 2nd degree assault.

Cathell was arrested without incident at his residence in Accomac County, Virginia. Cathell is currently being held in the Accomac County Detention Center as the process of extradition is currently ongoing through the office of the State’s Attorney for Worcester County.

Further inquiries can be directed to LT Mike McDermott at 410-632-1111.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

To many reports of abuse. Sexually and physically. And to close to home. Pay attention parents. Just because it's a teacher and they have a masters degree dosent mean that it can't and it isn't happening. The system will do all it can to protect these monsters. Listen to your kids. Act. Don't fall for the , she's been a teacher for 30years maybe your kid is exaggerating, or never had a complaint before.

Anonymous said...

Wonder what the Superintendent knew and when he knew it?

Anonymous said...

This was something that has been investigated since the girls came forward it's has been a very long and taxing investigation for the girls. I know 2 of the girls personally and their families have stood beside them and the county board because of the cooperation between both agencies!

Anonymous said...

I went to that school I knew the teacher
Everyone knew he was doing it I personally knew one of the girls who was touched
There just wasn't proof until the girls spoke up.

Anonymous said...

Everyone knew it was happening girls reported him before for other things just nothing like this

Anonymous said...

The superintendent had wind of this for a long time.

Anonymous said...

Hay, don't squawk, you Liberals wanted this, with your PC crap!
Let the Gays marry, don't talk bad about blacks, history is bad, it belongs in a museum, minimum wage needs to be increased, Black Lives Matter, Cops are Bad, Obama is doing a good job, vote for Hillary in 2016, whine, whine, whine, but ignore the truth, everyone is afraid of it, oh it might offend someone!

Anonymous said...

I don't think our children and grandchildren are taken seriously enough. One teacher told a girl she was lying so they figured it was a waste of time to say anything.

I don't know who knew from the board and if they knew ahead of time I sue their butts off.

Anonymous said...

I remember when I had him in the high school after school for bongo classes and hed push for me constantly for me to dance for him. Always thought he was creepy.

Anonymous said...

Yes the School knew! It happened at pocomoke high school and the old principal new it but because of it being his last year they sweep it under the rug and sent him to pocomoke middle ! The school in va knew and let him go ! this is a bunch of crap and only to charge him with 6 counts when there was almost 20 girls it happen to ! smh don't understand the law these days

Anonymous said...

That's the problem.. Because students are not being taken seriously. God forbid if such thing happen to my child...

Anonymous said...

One of the girls was twerking for him in class . This is one sick idiot.

Anonymous said...

12:14.... Exactly. He knew. But if he fired him or acted , the law suits would start flowing. He chose to keep quiet as long as possible and hoped it would never come out. Every school had a teacher with complaints that are ignored. Sickening.

Anonymous said...

You'd be ignored by the schools while they " look" into it. Then after months and several more instances , when you finally had enough, you'll be arrested and made the bad guy.

Anonymous said...

Kids twerking? That problem started at home.

Anonymous said...

But the BOE needs more money.

Anonymous said...

He will get his TWERKING!

Anonymous said...

This guy was hired at the High School towards the end of my years there. Always gave off a weird vibe, as you can see he just looks weird. I was never aware of any rumors regarding misconduct with him, but as I stated he came in as I was leaving. Either way this is sickening, how can we trust the school systems any more? I know that there are plenty of good teachers, but how can you take that risk as a parent?

Anonymous said...

PS- None of you know what the school "knew". Give it a rest.

Anonymous said...

The school system can't do anything without cooperation from the girls. Nuff said obviously you know nothing about the criminal justice system. In order for there to be a valid complaint there has the be a plaintiff in order for a charge to be made.

Anonymous said...

2:42 they told a Mrs. wright and she told them they was lying !

Anonymous said...

12:18 you are dumb! white lives matter just as much as black lives grow up and get over yourself ! You make all races look bad when you talk that way!

Anonymous said...

The school knew but didn't want to offend anyone, so they let it go and hoped the students would just drop it.

Anonymous said...

Public schools do the same thing with "bad" students.One of the guys involved in last weeks motel shooting was WAY too old to still be in high school and had been moved around from one school to another.I am sure Delmar parents were thrilled but anyhow....local private schools are forced to expand frequently to accommodate the growing number of enrollees and home-schooling is also on the uptick.Why? No one trusts the public system anymore when it comes to sexual abuse or bullying.Bad teachers should not be moved around.

Anonymous said...

You can attend school public/private until age 21. Just found this out research it. When I move to this area a teacher from a private school in the area was locked up for having relations with his students.

Anonymous said...

You can attend school public/private until age 21. Just found this out research it. When I move to this area a teacher from a private school in the area was locked up for having relations with his students. Our children are not safe. Parent please talk to your children about trusting adults.

Anonymous said...

He still should not have let it go on

Anonymous said...

Hey i know i shouldnt be on here but im a kid who had mr.cathell as my teacher in 6th grade, i was at lunch when my friends saying that mr.cathell was touching them and say to take off their jackets when they were wearing tank tops. When i had him before january, he was really nice and he asked me to get papers for him and stuff. I was pretty much his right hand man. After january when the semester was over he was changing because he had more girls in his class.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for telling this. Did you let the school know what you heard it could help keep him from doing these things to another child.