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2 www.DesertMessenger.com Desert Messenger EE FR S! AD Read MESSENGER Desert ONLINE @ www.MyQuartzsite.com DEADLINE IS WED. AUG. 28 for Sept. 4TH issue of the Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com Phone: 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com Here's the small print: Items for sale under $1000. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found. Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 DUMP THE DRUGS in Quartzsite! Do you have expired or unused medications? Dispose safely at QUARTZSITE POLICE DEPT. Mon - Fri. 8am-5pm Sponsored by QSAPC Quartzsite Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition August 14, 2013 Ehrenberg teacher arrested on child pornography charges By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear Blythe, CA - Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, arrested Russell A. Williams, 45, a 12 year veteran teacher at Ehrenberg Elementary School, on July 17, 2013. Williams, of Blythe, Calif., is facing Felony charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 14 and sending/possessing obscene matter. Williams is accused of knowingly and unlawfully sending and distributing masturbation videos of three different minors on April 21, as well as engaging in a sexual chat with a third Jane Doe on the same day. Riverside County Sheriff SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) reported that they discovered eight separate videos of child pornography on personal home computer on the day Williams was taken into custody. Williams was released on $55,000 bail. His next court date is September 23. According to a press release issued by Quartzsite Elementary School Dist. 4, (QES) during a Special Meeting held on Thursday, July 25, 2013, the Quartzsite Elementary School Governing Board voted to terminate Ehrenberg Elementary School teacher, Russell A. Williams, after finding he was in violation of A.R.S. §15-550 and Governing Board policy GBEB. Mr. Williams was arrested on July 17, 2013, and failed to immediately contact his supervisor to notify her of the arrest. Jacque Price, QES Superintendent said school policy states an employee of the school "who is arrested for or charged with any nonappealable offense listed in ARS. 41-1758.03 (B) AND who does not immediately report the arrest or charge to the person's supervisor is guilty of unprofessional conduct and the person shall be immediately dismissed from employment..." The Special Meeting agenda appeared on the QES website, but parents complained of not seeing the posting in the usual locations in Quartzsite. Price told Desert Messenger she is short staffed at the present, so didn't post the "courtesy notice" of tomorrow's meeting agenda in Quartzsite as usual. She said she is only required to post the agenda on the school's website, which she said met the requirement of posting within 24 hours of the scheduled meeting. Williams taught 5th grade last year at the Ehrenberg School, according to Price. She stated, "He's been teaching long before I arrived and was dedicated to his students." When asked if there had been prior complaints, Price said, "every teacher has complaints, but there was no particular complaints of this nature." However, a reliable source told Desert Messenger a former teacher had made statements expressing concern about Williams' behavior. Arizona Mandatory Reporting Law states "Any person who reasonably believes that a minor is or has been the victim of physical injury, abuse, child abuse, a reportable offense or neglect that appears to have been inflicted on the minor by other than accidental means…shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information to a peace officer or to Child Protective Services in the Department of Economic Security, except if the report concerns a person who does not have care, custody or control of the minor, the report shall be made to a peace officer only." (Arizona Revised Statute 13-3620) QES press release asks if you have information regarding Mr. Williams, you may contact the Riverside County District Attorney's Office by calling 951-955-5400 or toll-free at 888-3741235. You may also contact Superintendent Jacque Price at 928-923-7900 or the La Paz County Sheriff's Office at 928-669-9560.