PREBLE COUNTY — A Preble County Sheriff’s deputy working as a school resource officer has been accused of having a relationship with a student.
>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: School resource officer accused of having relationship with student in Preble County arrested
Mason Williams, 26, was arrested Friday, according to a previous News Center 7 report. He is facing one count of sexual battery, tampering with evidence, and dereliction of duty.
As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, community members are disgusted by this news.
“I hate to hear that. My heart broke for the child because she is still a child,” Eaton resident Carey Coffman said.
Coffman said she has seen the effects sexual abuse can have on a victim. She said her family members are still trying to recover from the abuse they endured as kids.
“These kids are having their childhood removed from them and it’s just unfair and unjust,” Coffman said.
On Wednesday, March 20, the Preble County Sheriff’s Office conducted an internal investigation on Williams.
They discovered that he was having a consensual relationship with an 18-year-old student at National Trail High School in New Paris.
“He’s being held without bond and is currently in the Butler County Jail, being held there at our request,” Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said.
Simpson said the relationship did not happen on school grounds and believes no other students are involved.
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He added that William’s actions go against everything he and his department stand for.
“When law enforcement investigates and arrests one of their own, it’s imperative that we be transparent and what we learned and how we responded, which is why we’re here today,” Simpson said.
Preble County resident Lynn Smitherman has worked with youth for 30 years.
She believes it is extremely important to educate children on how relationships like this are inappropriate.
“Have somebody open up those lines of communication so that you know what the children are thinking,” Smitherman said.
She does not blame the student in this case, but she said Williams should have known better.
“Here’s somebody with some authority within a school situation, taking advantage of a student…My concern was that that should not have happened,” Smitherman said.
Simpson said Williams is on paid administrative leave and is being held without bond.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will handle this investigation going forward.
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