Hastings Schools Investigating Inappropriate Touching

By: Kim Eiten - Email

Updated: Fri 10:51 PM, Sep 21, 2012

"The Hastings Public Schools did have a situation involving a primary student inappropriately touching a staff member. We're working with Health and Human Services and the authorities and, because this involves a student, we will not make any further comment." -Hastings Public Schools Public Relations Director Jeff Schneider

Hastings Public Schools are calling in the authorities to investigate a possible incident involving a student making inappropriate contact with a teacher.

This all comes less than a week after a similar incident at a Grand Island School.

Hastings School Officials said, there's not a to say.

Hastings Public Schools Public Relations Director Jeff Schneider said, at this point, it's about protecting those involved.

"The Hastings Public Schools did have a situation involving a primary student inappropriately touching a staff member," Schneider said. "We're working with Health and Human Services and the authorities and, because this involves a student, we will not make any further comment."

But, he did say the student is young. Primary level puts the child between kindergarten and second grade.

Schneider said, right now, it's up to authorities.

Hastings Police did not return phone calls for information about the incident.

But, Grand Island Police, who investigated their own student sexual assault case just last week, said these kinds of incidents are rare.

Hurst said inappropriate touching, as Hastings school officials are labeling the incident, could constitute a crime.

"Just touching them is a third degree sexual assault," he said.

And, Hurst said, when police handle these rare cases there's little leniency with a young suspect.

"Sometimes you have to go age appropriate for language and things, but our job is to investigate the crime and find out whether it did happen or whether it didn't happen," he said.