(OCEAN SPRINGS, MS.) - As of 5 p.m. Friday evening, a Jackson County, Miss., physical education teacher and computer technician sat behind bars.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Robert Griffin, a physical education teacher at St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs, on charges of molestation of a child and Mark Bowie on charges of possession of child pornography. School system officials say both had clean backgrounds and no complaints.
It was a hot topic with parent's waiting to pick their kids up from school: two school employees arrested within hours of each other.
"It's sickening really," April Weimer, whose daughter is in the sixth grade, says.
Authorities say Griffin, 39, fondled a 16 year old female student in the library parking lot.
"I mean, these kids are supposed to be able to trust their teachers," Weimer says.
Hours later, computer technician Mark Bowie, 41, was arrested after authorities say they found child pornography on his computer.
Jackson County Schools Superintendent Barry Amacker says both employees had background checks. Griffin, a teacher with the school system since 2002 is also the eighth-grade girls basketball coach at St. Martin Middle School.
"This is certainly a surprise," Amacker says.
Both employees are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Griffin faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Bowie could spend up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty.
