Tarkio coach faces misconduct allegations
Lee Rucker charged in molestation of child under 14
Lee Rucker charged in molestation of child under 14
A teacher and coach from Tarkio, Mo., has been placed on leave after he was arrested by the Atchison County Sheriff’s Department on a trio of criminal charges Sunday.
Lee Rucker was charged with first-degree child molestation and sexual misconduct involving a child less than 14 years of age — both felonies — and a misdemeanor charge of furnishing pornographic material to a minor. He was charged Sunday in Atchison County Associate Circuit Court and placed on a $250,000 cash bond.
Mr. Rucker teaches physical education in the Tarkio R-1 School District, serves as athletic director and coaches girls and boys basketball at the middle school and high school levels. He has been employed with the district for two years, according to Superintendant Linda Blum.
Ms. Blum was informed of the arrest Sunday and received a copy of the charges Monday.
“The charges were very disturbing,” Ms. Blum said. “The district will conduct its own investigation, without interfering, of course.”
She said Mr. Rucker will remain on leave until the case has been resolved. Until that time, Mr. Rucker will not have access to students or district property.
Mr. Rucker has no prior criminal record.
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In these types of offenses it's rare that they were caught the first time.
Generally speaking, by the time a sexual offender is caught they have encountered multiple victims.
Best wishes to the victim and their family.
Posted by triumph110 on July 29, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)This is happening all over the country. Go to www.schoolteachernews.com and click on the Scandal page. They have documented over 290 of these types of incidents since just the beginning of 2008.
Posted by moeducated on August 1, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)While this type of news is being reported all over the country, suggestive posts as previously observed are the kind of negative, sensationalist messages, distributed primarily by the media, condemn, ruin, and sentence a person prior to their hearing. This is America, we have the right to a fair, unbiased trial. Perhaps more faith in the system and less vigilante justice in order.
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