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Heritage Student Under Police Scrutiny in Gripping Sexual Assault Investigation

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Jeff Chew, Reporter

A sixth grader at Heritage Academy in Maricopa is facing serious allegations of sexual assault against a classmate.

Monica Williams, spokesperson for the Maricopa Police Department, confirmed on Wednesday that a report regarding the incident has been submitted and referred to criminal investigations.

The report was made by Jennifer Forsgren, the mother of the alleged victim. She claims her son was assaulted while waiting in line during physical education class. “He grabbed my son’s crotch and thrusted it,” Forsgren expressed, visibly distressed.

Forsgren initiated a Title IX investigation in mid-September to ascertain whether the incident constituted misconduct. However, she states that weeks later, she has not received any updates from school officials. Despite claims that the assistant principal and a witness reviewed video footage confirming the incident, Forsgren feels ignored by the administration.

“Nobody in the front office would talk to me about anything,” she stated. “Every single time I go in there, the principal and assistant principal hide from me in their offices.” Forsgren emphasized that her son is the real victim in this situation.

Despite Heritage Academy’s code of conduct outlining an eight-day suspension for sexual assault, Forsgren reports that the alleged assailant has not been suspended, leaving her son feeling uncomfortable in class as he must interact with the other student daily.

Moreover, Forsgren alleges that other male students may have experienced similar incidents, raising concerns about a broader issue within the academy.

Jared Taylor, chairman and CEO of Heritage Academy, stated that the charter school complies with all relevant laws and is limited in what it can disclose due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. He added, “Heritage Academy Maricopa also takes its responsibility for educating the community’s children seriously, which includes fostering a safe and appropriate learning environment for all of its scholars.”