New York police have arrested an elementary school principal for allegedly molesting several boys during school hours.
Kirk Ashton, the 51-year-old principal at Northwood Elementary School in Greece, NY, is facing six charges of first-class sex abuse, five additional sexual charges and nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Kirk Ashton, the 51-year-old principal at Northwood Elementary School in Greece, NY, is facing six charges of first-class sex abuse, five additional sexual charges and nine counts of child welfare.
(New York State Police)
New York Police Chief Barry Chase, the commander of Troop E, told reporters on Thursday that there were nine victims, all between 8 and 12 years old and all students at Ashton’s school.
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Ashton pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Bail was set at $ 500,000 cash or $ 1 million mortgage.
The Hilton Central School District said it was cooperating with police in the investigation and that Ashton has not had students since the spring break began on March 26. This is also when police said that the state’s child abuse hotline had received an anonymous tip alleging abuse by the principal.
Police said in a newsletter Thursday that they had heard from an anonymous tipster of the alleged abuse.
Prosecutors said additional abuse could date years and that there could be more, as yet unknown, victims.
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The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle newspaper reports that Ashton has been principal since 2004, until he was placed on administrative leave last week.
From 1996 to 2004, he reportedly worked at at least two other elementary schools in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District: Vollmer and Leary. He has apparently filled other school roles since the early 1990s.