Bail increased for teacher in sex case

By Matt Pordum

Friday, June 18, 2004 | 11:20 a.m.

A substitute teacher at Grant Sawyer Middle School accused of having sex with two female students had his bail increased to $60,000 from $5,000 in Clark County Justice Court on Thursday.

Cornelius Ausborne, 29, was arrested Monday on two counts of sexual assault of a minor 14 or under, sexual misconduct with a student and related offenses. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

Ausborne has admitted to fondling the 14-year-old in his classroom and having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl at her home, according to the police report.

Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith gave the District Attorney's office seven days to file a formal complaint against Ausborne and scheduled a hearing for June 29.

Ausborne, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate and a former Running Rebel basketball player, has been a substitute teacher at the middle school for the past two months. Authorities say they began their investigation earlier this month after hearing reports a teacher was having sex with students. He was fired after school administrators were informed of the charges.

Cornelius Ausborne taught at five middle schools in the Clark County School District in the 2003-04 school year: 75 days at Grant Sawyer, 23 days at Marvin Sedway, six days at James Cashman, one day at Theron Swainston and one day at Lyal Burkholder.

While Ausborne is accused of sexually molesting two students at Sawyer Middle School, Metro Police believe there may be more victims, possibly at the other schools.