ARLINGTON, Texas — A North Texas educator, a staff member, and the principal of the campus they work at were arrested this week in connection with an ongoing investigation into child grooming and an inappropriate relationship between a student and an educator, police said.
According to a news release from the Newman International Academy (NIA) Police Department, information received by law enforcement on Feb. 6 prompted the immediate termination of NIA High School educator Ruel Barbee and staff member Gabrielle Little.
The campus, located at 1111 Gibbins Rd. in Arlington, is a charter school for 7th through 12th grade.
On that same day, the news release stated that NIA PD obtained an arrest warrant for an improper relationship between an educator and student and served it to Barbee, later booking him into the Tarrant County Jail. However, as of Wednesday, Barbee did not appear in Tarrant County Jail records.
NIA PD said a warrant was also issued for Little, who was arrested on Feb. 10 on a charge of child grooming. However, jail records note that she is no longer in custody.
In a news release issued Wednesday, NIA PD said the principal of the campus, Rick Adams, was arrested on Feb. 12 after police obtained witness statements and evidence that gave them probable cause. Adams was arrested and booked in the Tarrant County Jail on three counts of tampering with evidence, one count of tampering with a witness and one count of failure to report abuse, NIA PD said. Both tampering charges are third-degree felonies.
In addition to these arrests, NIA PD said the school district placed Adams, the campus’ athletic director, the head varsity girls’ basketball coach and an assistant football coach on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
NIA’s Superintendent Dr. Sheba George released the following statement Wednesday:
“We will root out any exploitation or abuse of our students. There is absolutely no excuse that could justify the actions of educators who do not care about the well-being of students or who hurt them. It is my hope and prayer that other institutions responsible for the safety and well-being of children would take similar actions in response to this epidemic in our schools. At Newman International Academy, we will do what is right. We will fight for the justice of victims. We will not tolerate abuse or any action that attempts to cover up or hide it. We will deal with all allegations of misconduct of our staff fairly, but make no mistake: There is no place here at Newman where we will protect an educator or this institution’s reputation over a student’s life and the justice deserved by a victim of abuse.”
NIA PD said the investigation remains ongoing and further details will be released as permitted by law.