NY: Red Creek school employee, coach charged with sex abuse

Last Update: 8:42 pm
http://www.9wsyr.com/mostpopular/story/Red-Creek-school-employee-coach-charged-with-sex/RX_Xn6EEd0KP-XhQvj7lOA.cspx

Red Creek, Cayuga Co. (WSYR-TV) – Sheriff’s Deputies say a woman who acted as a monitor and coach for several Red Creek School District teams was arrested for sexually abusing a middle school student.

Kelly Powers, 31, of Red Creek, was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with one count of sexual abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Police say she had sexual contact at least a dozen times with a child under the age of 14.

Cayuga County Sheriff’s Deputies say the investigation began Tuesday, after a report was received from Child Protective Services in regard to inappropriate contact that Powers was having with a student. Powers allegedly had inappropriate contact with the victim at their residence in northern Cayuga County.

Sheriff’s Deputies say further charges are pending in regard to incidents which occurred on school property.

Deputies say Powers came into the Public Safety Building Tuesday afternoon, along with the victim and the victim’s family to report the incidents, and basically surrender herself.

“I think she's a close friend of the family -- I think it was a matter of her and the family wanting to do the right thing, and get this cleaned up specifically so child could start the healing process,” says Lt. Joseph Weeks of the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Department.

Powers has been a monitor at the Red Creek Middle School Office for the past four years, and coaches numerous girls’ athletic teams. The Red Creek Central website lists Ms. Powers as the head coach of the junior high girls basketball team and junior high girls soccer team.

The school district says after it found out about the charges, the district asked Powers to resign, which she did.

Powers was arraigned Tuesday night and made a court appearance Wednesday evening in Town of Victory Court. The Red Creek school board also held a meeting Wednesday night to talk about Powers’s arrest.

Deputies are looking in to whether there are any more victims. The Red Creek School District did not want to talk to us on camera Wednesday; it did issue a statement saying that this is a huge concern and that the main priority for the school district is to keep students safe.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detectives at 253-1610.


Full statement from Red Creek Central School District

There has been a matter brought to our attention by law enforcement whereby, Kelly Powers, a middle school office monitor and coach, was arrested yesterday by the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office for one count sexual abuse second degree and one count endangering the welfare of a child.

As a result of being advised of this incident, we met with the employee and requested and received her resignation effective immediately. Obviously, this is of great concern to all of us and we will continue to review the matter and take any additional action that is necessary.

Please be assured that the Red Creek Central School District will continue to provide a quality education to our students.