A high school teacher in Idaho was arrested and charged with sexual battery after he was accused of suspicious behavior involving a student.
Police launched an investigation into claims against Troy Wayne McFadden on May 26 after detectives received a report about his allegedly suspicious behavior that involved a minor, according to a press release obtained by Us Weekly.
Investigators said that McFadden, 46, worked as a faculty member at Ridgevue High School at the time of the report. The exact allegations against him have not yet been revealed, though authorities said they involved a student and that the incident took place off campus.
Once authorities were able to gather enough evidence against McFadden, he was taken into custody by the Nampa Police Special Enforcement Team on Thursday, June 11, without incident. He was then charged with sexual battery of a minor child, 16 or 17 years of age.
Investigators believe the case is an isolated incident and there are no suspicions that McFadden has other victims. However, police have asked that parents speak with their children about if they have come into contact with McFadden. If the students experienced any concerning incidents with the teacher, police have asked that the families report it.
“Witnessing suspicious behavior and alerting an adult is commendable. Those who notified police of something that appeared to be out of the norm and inappropriate were brave and did the right thing,” Nampa Police Sgt. Brad Barnum said in a statement about the incident included in the press release. “With their help, we were able to stop a very dangerous situation. Protecting children in our community is one of our highest priorities at the Nampa Police Department.”
Barnum continued, “It does not matter what position the suspect holds; we are going to be relentless in seeking them out, investigating the allegations, and holding them responsible.”
It is not currently clear if McFadden has entered a plea or trained legal counsel following his arrest.
Sexual battery is defined as a criminal offense that involves intentional, unconsented sexual contact with another person, according to the Law Dictionary. Sexual battery generally includes a wide range of unwanted touching, groping or forced intimate contact with the intention of sexual gratification.
In the state of Idaho, those found guilty of sexual battery of a minor child, 16 or 17 years can face various sentences based on the victim’s age and the act done against them. However, the most severe penalty is a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
