An Indiana social studies teacher who served as chairman of his local Democratic party has been arrested for masturbating in front of a class.
Joel R. Bowers, 37, was charged Oct. 1 with two sixth-degree felonies of performing for a minor injurious to minors and distributing matter harmful to minors.
A 14-year-old girl reported to police that during a sixth period at Jay County Junior-Senior High School on April 9, Bowers “wouldn’t get out of his seat and didn’t tell us to do anything.” according to The commercial review.
Bowers reportedly sat with one hand under his desk while his shirt was “loose,” and students claimed “white spots” appeared on his pants.
“There was white stuff on his pants and he didn’t want to get up for anything. He had his hand down there and was sweating, but it was cold in his room,” the student said in the report.
Joel R. Bowers (pictured), 37, was charged in April with masturbating in front of a class
The teacher “denied touching himself in class” to school officials and police, insisting the stains were caused by paint.
His distribution of matters harmful to minors stems from the fact that Bowers allegedly sent nude photos to a 15-year-old girl.
While investigating the classroom incident, police discovered a Snapchat conversation between Bowers and the girl who identified her as a minor, which contained nude photos.
He told police he thought the girl was an adult because they met on a chat platform that requires users to be 18 years or older.
Bowers was placed on administrative leave by Jay County Schools on April 11 and resigned shortly thereafter.
He was also the chairman of the Democratic Party in Jay County and resigned after the incident.
Bowers was the chairman of the Jay County Democrats at the time of the incident and later resigned
A student reported to police that during a sixth period at Jay County Junior-Senior High School (pictured) on April 9, Bowers had his hand under his desk and appeared sweaty.
Bowers was released from the Jay County Jail on a $3,000 bond and has a hearing scheduled for Monday at 4:30 PM ET.
If convicted, Bowers faces a prison sentence of six months to two and a half years, with a one-year advisory sentence.
Earlier this year, a shocking video captured a primary school pupil beating up a student with special needs in a ‘fight club’ organized by his teacher.
The attacker can be heard saying, “Don’t mess with me” as she throws punches as her son cries on the floor — and their second-grade teacher shouts, “You got him.”
Corrie Horan’s lawsuit in Marion County, Indiana, on behalf of her son, accuses teacher Julious Johnican of “orchestrating a reprehensible ‘fight club’ style discipline in his classroom over a three-month period.”