Girls detail how school counselor allegedly molested them
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- New details are coming to light as accusations mount against a former school counselor accused of indecency with a child.
Brandon McElveen, 33, is charged with three counts of indecency with a child. The charges are linked to cases involving three different young girls.
All the alleged incidents are said to have taken place in McElveen's office when he worked as a counselor at KIPP Explorer Academy on Lawndale in Houston.
In each case, the girls were taken out of their classrooms for alleged health checks. The allegations go back to at least 2012, and continue to as recently as this school year.
McElveen was fired once the school learned of the allegations earlier this month.
One alleged victim, an 8-year-old girl, told authorities McElveen, known to students as 'Mr. Mack,' told her he was checking her body for lice and bug bites when she was in second grade. He then allegedly touched the girl inappropriately, and made her touch his genitals as well, she said.
According to court documents, a 7-year-old girl says McElveen pulled her out of class and into his office, asking if she could keep a secret because he was going to touch her 'middle part.' She told police McElveen had her sit on his lap while he touched her. The alleged abuse happened multiple times, beginning in March 2017 when the girl was in first grade, and continuing into the second grade.
An 11-year-old girl described similar incidents with McElveen, telling police she was touched in his office once or twice a week, starting when she was in first grade and continuing until she was in fourth grade. Court documents state the abuse began about the time the victim's grandmother died, and continued through her parents' divorce. She said McElveen would have her unzip her pants and pull down her underwear to "check for bruises." She told police the door would be closed and McElveen would pull her off his lap any time he heard someone approaching.
Sources tell ABC13 that there are more alleged victims and more charges are expected to be filed.
"He has the opportunity here to select the most vulnerable and to prey on them," said Randy Burton of Justice for Children.
Child advocate Randy Burton said the allegedly frequency of abuse at school is concerning. Burton said by law teachers must report it if they suspect abuse within 24-hours.
"In fact, if they don't report and something like this is discovered, and they could have protected a child maybe for years, it's a Class B misdemeanor," said Burton.
Burton said there a behaviors to look out for if parents suspect abuse.
"They may be sexually acting out when children their age are not doing anything like that. They may be withdrawing from people. They may have nightmares," said Burton.
For more on signs of child sexual abuse and numbers to call click here.
We reached out to KIPP. They said this behavior runs counter to what they stand for. Since the allegations came out, they have added more oversight. In a letter to parents, KIPP announced a number of changes. One of them includes notifying parents when a student is taken out of class for the following reasons: behavioral, mental, physical health and/or their well-being.
KIPP sent out the following statement:
"We are deeply disturbed by these new allegations about our former staff member. This type of behavior runs counter to everything we believe in at KIPP. Our hearts go out to any member of the KIPP community who has experienced abuse, and we encourage those who have information to contact the authorities. We will continue to support law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office in its investigation so justice is served." - Sehba Ali Superintendent KIPP Houston Public Schools
