Canton Educators Arrested in River Ridge High Sexual Assault Case

A wrestling coach sexually assaulted a 16-year-old student, and a teacher with knowledge of the incident failed to report it, the said today.

Robert Leslie Morrow, 28, was arrested today on a charge of sexual assault by a person of authority. Teacher Kristin May, 32, was arrested on a charge of failure to report.

According to Lt. Jay Baker, the investigation began in late July when the victim reported the December 2010 assault to the . The incident took place in Morrow’s vehicle in a local business park within the River Park subdivision, Woodstock Police spokeswoman Brittany Duncan said.

"The victim reportedly told May about the incident in January of 2011," Baker said. "May, who is a mandated reporter, did not report the incident to authorities. The victim no longer attends school in Cherokee County."

The Sheriff's Office notified the  in July and Superintendent Frank Petruzielo authorized an internal investigation, spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said. Morrow was immediately placed on administrative leave.

The victim was not a student of Morrow’s, but attended class in the same classroom where he worked, the school system said.

"Upon subsequently being informed by law enforcement agencies of an additional criminal investigation into the teacher for that classroom, Kristin May, for failing to report the alleged relationship, the superintendent authorized another internal investigation and immediately reassigned Ms. May to a position without student contact," Jacoby said. "The internal investigations remain underway."

Morrow and May, both from Canton, are in custody at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. May’s bond was set at $680; Morrow’s, $11,200.

"As the internal investigations are pending and they involve personnel, no school district officials will make further comment on this matter at this time," Jacoby said.

Morrow was a three-time individual state wrestling champion when he was a student at , according to In the Game, a metro Atlanta high school sports magazine.

Stay tuned to canton-ga.patch.com for updates.