Asst. Band Teacher at Kc School Charged with Child Molestation

By Michelle Pekarsky and Robert Townsend
Fox 4
March 13, 2014

http://fox4kc.com/2014/03/13/kc-girl-claims-band-teachers-assistant-fondled-her-breast/

[with video]

An assistant band teacher who worked at St. Thomas More Elementary School, 11800 Holmes Rd., has been charged in Jackson County with two misdemeanor counts of child molestation in the 2nd degree and two 3rd degree assault counts.

FOX 4 was first to report on Thursday the allegations against Tod A. Barnard, 53, after an 11-year-old girl said he inappropriately and repeatedly touched her breast.

Barnard was taken into police custody and charges were filed on Friday.

According to the police report, the girls’ parents became concerned when she expressed anxiety about her band class and said she no longer wanted to participate in band.

Her parents called the principal last Thursday, March 6, who then brought in the counselor. During the meeting, the girl told the counselor that the assistant in her band class had touched her breast several times, beginning in December 2013. She said he started doing it about once a week.

The girl said the teaching assistant would act as if he tripped and catch himself by grabbing her breast. She said he squeezed her breast at least once. The girl said she didn’t believe his tripping was an accident, because it was happening so frequently.

St. Thomas More School Principal Brian Borgmeyer sent a letter home to parents on Thursday, which outlined the accusations against the band teacher’s assistant and stated that the individual was on administrative leave

According to Borgmeyer, the school performed a background check on Barnard.

Prosecutors requested a $10,000 bond.