Three educators at an Arlington charter school have been charged in connection with a child abuse investigation after two seventh-grade students stepped forward with allegations.
Ruel Barbee, 52, a teacher’s aide at Newman International Academy Gibbins Campus, was arrested on February 6 and charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
A warrant was also filed for Gabrielle Little, 22, an assistant part-time coach for the girls’ basketball team. She turned herself in on Monday and was charged with child grooming.
Barbee and Little were released from jail after each posted a $15,000 bond, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The principal of the school, Richard Adams, 63, was arrested on Thursday and charged with failure to report abuse and three counts of tampering with evidence and tampering with a witness. He was later released from the Tarrant County Jail after posting a $50,000 bond.
Adams has been accused of trying to cover up the allegations against Barbee and Little.
“We had probable cause in three separate, very clear incidences where he participated in or directed the destruction of evidence,” said Matthew Antkowiak, the Newman International Academy police chief.
The Academy serves about 3,000 pre-K-to-12th grade students on seven campuses and has its own police force, which is handling the investigation.
The arrest warrants were issued based on a “combination of statements from victims, statements from students, statements from other educators, physical evidence that we’ve obtained, and statements from our suspects,” Antkowiak said, per Fox 4.
The Academy fired Little and Barbee after reviewing the evidence, and Adams was placed on leave but subsequently resigned during the investigation.
Antkowiak said he believes there may be more victims and possibly more perpetrators involved in the abuse. He indicated the investigation could expand outside the school system.
“But we do have credible information of additional victims, and we’re working with them,” Antkowiak said, per Fox 4, adding, “We’ve collected a ton of phones at this point.”
Barbee is a local youth pastor, and three churches affiliated with Barbee are also being investigated.
“I highly anticipate there will be other people charged, but they will not be employees of Newman,” Antkowiak said, Fox 4 reported.
The Academy’s police department is working with state and federal investigators, as some of the cases may extend out of the state.
Three other educators—the campus athletic director, the head girls’ varsity basketball coach, and the assistant football coach—have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Dr. Sheba George, the superintendent of Newman International Academy, issued a statement about the allegations and ongoing investigation.
“We will not tolerate abuse or any action that attempts to cover up or hide it. We will root out any exploitation or abuse of our students. There is absolutely no excuse that could justify the actions of educators who do not care about the well-being of students or who hurt them,” George said, per Fox 4.