Press Release: A 10-year-old girl who claimed last month that a Spencer Bibbs Elementary School music teacher molested her has been charged with filing a false police report.
The girl was arrested on the charge, which is a first-degree misdemeanor, this afternoon. She was taken to the Escambia County Jail and released to a guardian’s care after being processed on the charge.
“It is really sad that a child would repeatedly make up a story that could end up getting someone arrested and jeopardizing their career,†said Chief Chip W. Simmons.
Charges against the teacher – Kenneth Wayne Campbell, 46, of Cantonment – were dropped this afternoon by the State Attorney’s Office after police conducted an intensive follow-up investigation that determined the child’s allegations were false.
Campbell was arrested April 19 and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior/molesting a victim less than 12 years old.
Initially, the girl told family members the incidents began a few weeks prior to April 19. She said Campbell had rubbed her shoulders in class, fondled her breasts and told her if she told anyone he would hurt her and kill her family. During that time period, the child also developed behavioral problems at home and at school.
Capt. Paul Kelly said the girl was consistent with her allegations during several interviews with detectives and Child Protection Team members.
Based upon the child’s consistency in her allegations, an affidavit was initiated for Campbell, signed by a judge and he was arrested.
Later, officers were called to the child’s home to investigate an allegation she had battered another family member. That claim has been referred to the Department of Children and Family Services as part of the entire case.
Kelly said during follow-up interviews after Campbell’s arrest, the child began to add exaggerated allegations about Campbell.
Eventually, she admitted her allegations against Campbell were false and told detectives she had fabricated the allegations because she didn’t like him and she wanted to change from Spencer Bibbs Elementary to another school.
Arrest report: 10yoarrest