Sleepovers lead to teacher’s arrest

Jen Lawson and Emily Richmond

Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

A substitute teacher has been charged with attempted sexual assault and lewdness stemming from sleepovers at his home that allegedly involved a former student, Metro Police said.

Robert Gordon Stevenson, 33, of Las Vegas, was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, police said. He worked at John Bass Elementary School and was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts, police said.

Stevenson was charged with two counts of attempted sexual assault and two counts of lewdness with a minor under 14 years old, police said.

Stevenson has been a substitute teacher locally since October 2001, Edward Goldman, superintendent of the Clark County School District's southeast region, said.

The parents of the 8-year-old alleged victim reported Stevenson to Metro's sexual assault unit on Monday. According to Stevenson's arrest report, obtained by the Sun, the boy became upset a few days ago when he found out Stevenson would be going on a camping trip with him and other boys.

The boy's mother asked him why he didn't want to go. The boy said he and Stevenson fondled each other and had attempted to have sex, and that Stevenson forced him into it, the report says.

The boy is friends with Stevenson's son, according to the report.

Police said they are concerned there may be other victims.

School administration had been concerned about Stevenson's behavior toward children in his class, the report says. Other teachers complained that he hugged boys and had them sit on his lap.

Stevenson had also been warned by the bishop of his church about behaving inappropriately with boys, according to the report.

Goldman said Stevenson will be receiving a letter from the district dismissing him, effectively immediately.

At least 15 Clark County teachers have been charged with sex-related offenses in the past three years.

The district requires the same FBI background checks for substitute teachers that it conducts on regular employees, Goldman said.

Anyone with any information about Stevenson or any alleged incidents are asked to call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or Metro Sexual Assault at 229-3421.