New details in case of teacher accused of improper recordings
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Katy ISD choir teacher charged with recording a student while she changed clothes in a school closet was in court Monday morning. It's been three days since the incident allegedly happened at Mayde Creek High School.
Clarence Appleby III was had been the Assistant Choir Director at the school for two years and two months. But that ended Friday. The 28-year-old teacher was fired and arrested after a student said she found a camera in the choir changing room.
VIDEO: Parent reacts to the accusations
13 Eyewitness News talked with the one the parents of the choir booster club. She says the allegations seemed out of character. She said the allegations have been difficult on the students.
"This has really rocked their world and their faith of what's going on and they don't want to believe it and should they believe it," she said.
She said if the allegations are too, she's concerned about the long-term effects it could have on her daughter.
"My daughter, if this turns out to be true, it's going to rock her world on who she perceives to be the good people," she said.
Appleby refused to talk to abc13 about the allegations.
But he seemed unphased as prosecutors went into detail, explaining how they believe Appleby recorded the student stripping naked.
"Mr. Appleby has been charged with invasive, improper photography," said Angela Weltin with the Harris County District Attorney's office.
Prosecutors say Appleby videoed the high school student by setting up a camera in a closet, then told her to try on her choir uniform in there. She asked to use the bathroom instead. Investigators say the 28-year-old teacher said no and insisted that she "take off her panties and her underwear so as to show no lines in the gown. She was in the process of changing into her third gown when she noticed a box. Inside that box was video recorder," Weltin said.
Prosecutors say the student called her mom, who told the teen to take the camera. The girl tried, but Appleby caught her. Then investigators say the choir teacher took the video and played it in front of her.
"She saw herself on that computer, having undressed and it was recorded. Then he instructed her to delete that item," Weltin said.
The video was deleted. Now, investigators are trying to figure out if there are any more victims out there who have yet to come forward.
"I ask the public and others that if they're aware of other incidents to please report it to Katy ISD police or Harris County District Attorney's office. We are obviously interested in knowing if there are other situations," Weltin said.
Eyewitness News has learned that Appleby worked for Katy ISD for two years and prior to that he worked as a vocal teacher in Putnam City Oklahoma.
In addition to teaching at Mayde Creek High School, Katy ISD said Appleby filled in for brief class periods at Cardiff Junior High, which is also in Katy ISD.
