By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 7/17/09
A second-grade teacher at Tropic Isles Elementary School is held in the Lee County Jail without bond as police and school district officials investigate claims that he molested two female students this past school year.
David Ashley McNabb, 51, of 11982 Glen Ave., Fort Myers, was charged Wednesday with capital sexual battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.
Tropic Isles, recently recognized for the prestigious Governor's Sterling Award, is located at 5145 Orange Grove Blvd. in North Fort Myers.
School district officials said McNabb will not return to a Lee County classroom if the district finds validity to the accusations against him.
Officials are concerned about the safety of students, and do not necessarily rely on the same burden of proof required to convict McNabb of the crimes of which he is accused, said district spokesperson Joe Donzelli.
"We will always err on the side of caution when it comes to kids," he said Thursday. "He is no longer welcome at this point at his school or any other school campus in the district. We'll be conducting our own investigation which will be done concurrently but separately."
Donzelli said the school district will assist the Lee County Sheriff's Office with its criminal investigation against McNabb however it can, as well as offer counseling to the alleged victims.
McNabb will be suspended with pay beginning Aug. 17 at the start of the 2009-10 school year. His suspension continues until the district concludes its investigation.
Reports state that two girls, students in McNabb's second-grade classroom, told deputies Tuesday that they had been sexually assaulted by their teacher on several occasions between January and the end of the school year.
During forensic interviews with the Children's Advocacy Center, the girls reportedly said that they would approach McNabb for schoolwork questions, at which point he would touch them inappropriately outside and inside their clothing.
The school district is now asking parents to come forward with any information about this or other alleged incidents involving McNabb.
"If there's anyone out there that's got additional information regarding this incident or any other incident, they need to come forward," Donzelli said. "We don't know if there's anyone else out there, but if there is we want to know about it."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 477-1000.
Investigations continue.
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