Is this how you celebrated your last day of teaching this year?
Police Say Teacher Showed Up To School Drunk
A teacher allegedly asked girls inappropriate questions and touched them at school, while he was intoxicated.
St. Louis, MO -- A long time veteran of the St. Louis School District now faces criminal charges. A teacher at the Pruitt Military Academy allegedly asked inappropriate questions and touched three seventh grade girls while intoxicated.
The incident happened Monday. We spoke to the girls' parents. We are only using their first names to protect their identities. One of the mothers, Regina, says, "Once I got there the man was unable to stand, and he urinated on himself he was so drunk."
They say Johnson made obscene remarks to one seventh grade student, then inappropriately touched another. Another mother, Kim says, "He was touching her behind and her side and trying to go between her legs. He just fondled her."
A third student was reportedly asked to get the teacher alcohol from his car. Her mother, Tamica, says, "He was like go to the car and get that bag, get my drinks out of the car. When they got to the car they found out it was liquor, which was Courvoisier."
It was 9:30 in the morning. Police responded, arrested Johnson and now he's facing assault charges.
Tamica says, "I'm like, am I dreaming? Because somebody please wake me up. Because I know this is not happening to my 13 year old daughter."
Prosecutors are taking this very seriously. So is the school district. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce says, "I'm very concerned that this is a teacher doing this. I think the safety of kids in our schools is a very high priority."
School Superintendent Creg Williams says, "The bottom line is this is totally unacceptable and this gentleman will be held accountable."
Parents certainly hope so. They say this is a continuing problem that needs to be addressed. Regina says, "This is not the first incident of him being drunk. He's on probation."
They want to see Sterling Johnson punished. They hope he never enters a classroom again. Regina says, "I feel the school failed to keep the kids safe."
Johnson now faces charges for 3rd degree assault. The school district has suspended him and plans to fire him. All three parents we talked to say they will pull their daughters out of the Pruitt Military Academy immediately.
