The arrest report for the Grayson County High School teacher arrested on child-sex related charges reveals graphic details about the relationship between educator Roger Williams and the 17-year-old female student he is accused of sexually abusing.
Some of the more explicit language contained in the arrest report has been sanitized for this article.
The investigation into Williams’ behavior began when school authorities were notified that Williams had “inappropriately touched” the student on multiple occasions. Upon interviewing the student, she told Kentucky State Police Detective Ken Borders that Williams began the inappropriate relationship “around Christmas time of 2017.”
The victim told authorities that Williams, 62, of Clarkson, gave her his cell phone number and they “texted back and forth talking about sexual acts.”
The student told Det. Borders that in March, when former Grayson County High School teacher Jonathan Jones was arrested for third-degree sodomy involving a female student, “Williams told her to delete the text messages and take his number out of the phone, just in case.”
The report says that on April 20, “Williams asked her to go into the bathroom and take photographs of her privates.” The student complied, with Williams then taking a picture of the photograph with his phone. His thinking, according to the student, was to minimize the chances of him being caught.
The arrest report continues, saying that on May 3 and May 8 “Williams placed his hand on her bare” genitalia “while he was seated at his desk at the high school.”
Williams’ arrest
The arrest report says Williams was taken to the Leitchfield Police Department by GCHS Principal Todd Johnston at around 5:00 Wednesday night, with Williams admitting to Kentucky State Police “that he had texted the victim about sexual acts; that he had taken pictures of the victim’s photographs depicting her bare” body and that he had “touched the victim’s bare” genitalia “on at least two occasions while in the school.”
Williams also told police that he had told the victim that when she turned 18 “she could come to his house and he would provide marijuana and” perform a sex act on her.
Williams was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and possessing/viewing matter portraying a sex act by a minor, and transported to the Grayson County Detention Center. He has since been freed on bond.
In-school abuse
In the cases of former GCHS teachers Gavin Logsdon, charged with third-degree rape, and Jones, the alleged sexual misconduct took place outside of school grounds (as far as has been released by law enforcement). But in Williams’ case, the abuse occurred inside the walls of Grayson County High School, which has resulted in school officials limiting where (and when) students are allowed to go inside classrooms and hallways.
On Thursday, students were told they are not allowed to be in the hallway while class is in session; they are not allowed to go into a teacher’s classroom during that teacher’s planning period; and they are not allowed to be in a classroom unless they are a member of the class taking place.
Prosecutorial dilemma
Williams’ brother is Grayson County Commonwealth Attorney David Williams, whose office prosecutes felony crimes in the county. Due to a conflict of interest, neither Williams nor any of his staff will be involved in the prosecution of Roger Williams. Presumably, a special prosecutor will be brought in to prosecute the case.
Additionally, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, it’s possible a judge will be brought in from outside Grayson County because of David Williams’ relationship with local judges.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
