Rhett Kelley, 32, science / biology teacher at Van Buren High School, Van Buren School District, Van Buren, Arkansas, "accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a student " Email: Rhett.Kelley@vbsd.us Times Record: Van Buren Teacher Suspected Of Sending Inappropriate Texts To Students (Mar 1 2013) A 15-year-old female student contacted police saying she allegedly received several inappropriate text messages from Kelley, according to a Feb. 22 police report. The girl told police Kelley was one of her teachers, and that she was a babysitter for Kelley in November or December 2012. The girl also told police initial text exchanges with Kelley consisted mainly of school-related topics, but Kelley later began texting “at all hours” and the messages became unrelated to school, the report states. A detective read the text messages and described them as “sexual in nature,” according to the report. In one of the exchanges, Kelley allegedly asked the student to go to the mall and help him pick out panties, and allegedly told her, “she could try on the panties so that he would know what they looked like,” the report states.Police took possession of the phone after the student made the report, but did not receive any inappropriate messages from Kelley, the report states. The 15-year-old girl also told police that a friend of hers, also 15, received similar text messages from Kelley, according to the report. On Feb. 22, police arrived at the high school where they interviewed the girls with the school’s resource officer and administration officials present. Police reviewed the text messages sent to the girl’s friend, which a detective described as also “sexual in nature,” the report states. Tags:
5 News Online: Teacher Accused of Sending Inappropriate Texts to Student (Feb 25 2013) A local parent says a teacher at Van Buren High School sent his daughter inappropriate text messages on her cell phone. The Van Buren School District will not comment, but Van Buren Police confirm they are investigating the matter. “His wife should be very upset to say the least,” said Cliff Hall, the father of the 15-year-old girl science teacher Rhett Kelley is accused of messaging ... Kelley started sending the texts about four weeks ago, according to Hall. “He shouldn’t be allowed to be teaching anywhere,” Hall said. “He doesn’t need to be anywhere where he’s involved with minors.” 5 News Online: Van Buren Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Harassing Student (Mar 1 2013) A warrant for Rhett Kelley’s arrest on a harassment charge was issued Friday (March 1.) He turned himself in to police just before 5 p.m., according to Det. Jonathan Wear. The teenage victim’s father said Kelley started sending the inappropriate text messages about four weeks ago. In one of the text messages Kelley asked the girl to go to the mall and help him pick out panties at a lingerie store, according to a police report. In the text message he even suggested the girl model the panties for him, police said.
THV 11: Student receives inappropriate texts from teacher (Feb 25 2013) Cliff Hall, an upset parent, said the teacher started sending the texts about four weeks ago to his 15-year-old daughter. He said the principal acted quickly. "I don't know that there's any kind of way to screen for these kind of people or not because it seems that he's a well-liked teacher," said Hall. THV 11: Ark. teacher accused of inappropriate texts turns himself in (Mar 1 2013) A warrant for Rhett Kelley's arrest on a harassment charge was issued Friday, March 1. He turned himself in to police just before 5 p.m., according to Det. Jonathan Wear.
NWA Homepage: Van Buren Teacher Arrested for Sexual Text Messages (Mar 1 2013) A Van Buren teacher, police say sent sexual text messages to one of his female students, arrested Friday after turning himself into police. Two teenage students at Van Buren High School say Rhett Kelley has been sending them inappropriate text messages for about a month. According to a police report. in one of the text messages, Kelley asked one of the teenage victims to go to the mall and help him pick out panties. He even suggested the girl model the panties for him.
40/29 TV: Police: Teacher arrested for harassing student (Mar 1 2013) According to a police report, [Rhett] Kelley sent text messages to the student that were "sexual in nature" but didn't mention anything about having sex. The police report states Kelley asked the high school student if she would go to the mall with him and pick out panties from Victoria's Secret. Investigators even borrowed the student's phone to conduct the investigation.
Ozarks First: Van Buren Teacher Arrested for Sexual Text Messages (Mar 2 2013) Two teenage students at Van Buren High School say Rhett Kelley has been sending them inappropriate text messages for about a month. According to a police report. in one of the text messages, Kelley asked one of the teenage victims to go to the mall and help him pick out panties. Police say he also suggested the girl model the panties for him.
Future repetitive posting (especially without presenting any links or other evidence to back you up) will get you banned from this site. Correction: The jury acquitted Rhett Kelley, which means that the case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. And tell the whole story ... Judge Acquits Van Buren Teacher 16 May 2016 Deputy Prosecutor Lena Cearley said Peer acquitted Kelley because he didnt cause, aid or encourage either girl to do or perform any act which, if done or performed, would make the minor a delinquent juvenile or juvenile in need of supervision, while the judge also made it clear to Kelley his interaction with the two girls was inappropriate. In one of the exchanges, Kelley allegedly asked the student to go to the mall and help him pick out panties, and allegedly told her, she could try on the panties so that he would know what they looked like, the report states. In another text message, Cearley said Kelley told one of the girls she had an A in his class because shes hot. ... Superintendent Merle Dickerson said Wednesday that Kelley remains suspended and the school board will determine his future employment status. http://www.swtimes.com/sections/news/judge-acquits-van-buren-teacher.html
Given that the judge still reprimanded Rhett Kelley because "his interaction with the two girls was inappropriate", this thread will remain public.
