Church Officials, Teacher Arrested In New Sex Assault Case
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A 32-year-old teacher and three other people tied to a Colorado Springs church and school have been arrested in a new sex assault case.
Terah Allyn Rawlings was indicted by a grand jury on charges of luring a sophomore at Hilltop Baptist School into a sexual relationship that started in 2007 and involved multiple encounters. The El Paso County Sheriff's office says Rawlings was arrested Wednesday on multiple felony counts.
According to the sheriff's office, the sex assault took place in 2007 and was reported in 2010.
Officials are also charging three additional suspects who work at or worked at the school. The following people are charged with failing to report the crime:
- Franklin "Wayne" Knight, 63, is a senior pastor at Hilltop Baptist Church and former superintendent of the school. He is also Rawlings' uncle.
- Raymond "Allen" Knight, 57, is Rawlings' father. He is the former athletic director and an associate pastor at Hilltop Baptist Church.
- Jan Ocvirk, 51, is the former principal
"There was information that was brought forward to the school officials, both the superintendent and the principal as well as the athletic director, had knowledge that there were concerns pertaining to an inappropriate relationship with this teacher and a student and that information was ultimately discounted," said El Paso County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lt. Lari Sevene.
According to court documents, the head pastor was informed of the assault allegations three times.
Rawlings has posted a $25,000 bond in the case.
The Hilltop Baptist School is located in the 6900 block of Palmer Park Boulevard in the eastern end of Colorado Springs. It has since closed because of low enrollment.
