Editorial: Predators in our midst

Friday, June 10, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

It was disturbing this week to read that a Garside Junior High School teacher had been charged with seven felony counts, including attempted sexual misconduct with a student. The allegations became even more troubling when we learned some of the details of the case that Metro Police is compiling against Marc Horton, a 27-year-old gym teacher.

Horton was arrested last Friday, police officers said, just before he was to meet a 14-year-old student for a sexual encounter at a school dance. Police officers said that Horton not only had previously exchanged sexually explicit e-mails with the 14-year-old on a Web site chat room, but that he also has admitted he had engaged in online sex chats with two other girls at Garside. And on Wednesday the Las Vegas Sun reported that the mother of another Garside student said she had warned school administrators eight months ago about Horton.

The mother said Horton had stared at her eighth grade daughter's body and made inappropriate comments about her underwear. But, the mother said, a Garside assistant principal didn't seem too concerned about her daughter's allegation. Rebecca Kaatz, assistant superintendent of the Clark County School District's southwest region, said the matter will be investigated to see if it was handled correctly at the time. "Anything we hear, we will send to Metro for their review as well," Kaatz said.

The issue of school employees preying on children has grown more worrisome in recent years. Prior to 2005, within the span of just three years, 19 Clark County School District employees had been charged with sex-related crimes, including the possession of child pornography, molestation and rape. The school district does conduct an FBI criminal background check of new employees, and all employees are required to watch a training video that warns of the serious consequences of having sex with students, but those important steps aren't foolproof when you are dealing with sexual predators. If a child, parent or fellow teacher reports any inappropriate actions, then the school must quickly review the allegations and act aggressively if they are found credible. A zero-tolerance policy is essential.

As evidenced by the case involving the Garside teacher, parents need to make sure that their computer is located in a common area in the home, enabling them to monitor their child's use, especially since sexual predators troll online chat rooms for victims. For that matter, sexual predators can be anywhere, including in trusted positions of authority -- teachers, youth athletic coaches and members of the clergy to name but a few. Overall, parents need to walk that fine line of not being paranoid while still remaining vigilant in knowing who their child's friends are and which adults they come into contact with. It's yet one more indication of why being a child isn't always so safe and carefree anymore -- and why it is so challenging being a parent in today's world.