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| Updated: 5/03/2012 5:22 pm |
Published: 5/03/2012 4:19 pm |
VAN BUREN COUNTY, AR - Clinton Junior High history teacher and coach lance Campbell left court Thursday after pleading not guilty to 1st degree sexual assault. Prosecutors say the charges stem from incidents involving a 16-year-old female student. Campbell, along with Kevin Widener and Shawna Ward, is the third employee of a Van Buren county school to face sexual assault charges in the last month.
"I was sick to my stomach,” Parent Sandra Sheppard said. “Could've been my kid."
Sheppard has two children who go to Clinton junior high.
"The kids, when you send them to school you think that they're protected,” Sheppard said. “You know, you never know what's going on. You gotta keep an eye on them."
Sheppard said she's worried about her kids, and with three area teachers facing sexual assault charges, she's given them specific instructions.
"Pretty much not to be alone with anybody. Right now with all that's going on and stuff and you know talk to other adults if they see something going on or something like that," Sheppard said.
Prosecuting attorney Cody Hiland says he can't discuss the cases against Campbell, widener, or ward, but Hiland did say the three arrests aren't a reflection of Van Buren county.
"You know, I'm from Van Buren county,” Hiland said. “This happens in Faulkner county. It happens in Pulaski. I think it's really a reflection on maybe the erosion of some societal values than it is anything else."
