School Principal Charged with Raping Students

An assistant principal with Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina, is now facing several charges after allegedly having sexual contact with students. Police say that 37-year-old Aaronson Franks had sex with one student multiple times at the end of the last school year and sex with another student this year. Each time, he is accused of having sex with the students on school grounds.

"It happened in a part of the building that was removed, where no one else had access," said Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton.

Police in Concord say that one of the students is under the age of 16. The other student finished high school last year. Franks is charged with statutory rape, statutory sexual offense, activity with a student by an administrator, taking indecent liberties with a student and indecent liberties with children.

"I don't know that I can ever recall us having handled an assistant principal. It's very unusual. It's tragic. It's horrible," said Hamilton.

The investigation began last week when one of the parents came to police. Authorities are also wondering if there could be more victims of Franks' activity. The teacher has taught in Virginia, Florida and the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school system.

Franks has been arrested and was released from jail, after posting a $60,000 bond. The school has suspended him with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to the research paper, "Aggression and Violent Behavior," roughly 60 percent of statutory rape victims are aged 14 to 15 and 25 percent of the assailants are older than the age of 25. Most incidents are not reported, and in many cases, those committing the crime have obtained regular access to young people. Also, the problem is as old as sex itself. The "American Journal of Public Health," says that roughly 2/3 of the teenagers impregnated in 1993 had their children fathered by adult men.

The results of Statutory Rape can be devastating, including teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, higher dropout rates and depression. The damage that Assistant Principal Franks may have done to the children at his school could be permanent. At the same time, Franks is innocent until proven guilty. This fact should be kept in mind, since false rape allegations can tarnish a man's image for life.