S. Ind. Boarding School Employee Arraigned

By Shay McAlister
WHAS
September 3, 2015

http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/indiana/2015/09/03/boarding-school-employee-arraigned/71654256/

Christopher Williams appeared in court Thursday, Sept. 3.

His preliminary charges are battery and neglect.

His friends and family were seen outside of the courtroom holding bibles, and holding hands. But police said Williams didn't act alone. Pastor Gerald Harris is accused of the same crimes, and already bonded out. Police said they know the abuse happened at the Well of grace Boarding Academy in Clarksville but there's still a lot of mystery surrounding the case.

"Were looking at exactly what the arrangements were for keeping the kids, what the philosophy was, what the reasoning were for kids being here”, Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said.

Mull said the academy, located on the property of Crossroads Baptist Church, provided the children with educational curriculum as well as meals and a place to sleep. Many of the children are from out of state and a big part of Thursday was getting them back home.

"The Clarksville Police Department and the Indiana Department of Child Services is working with the parents of the children to arrange for their transportation back,” Mull said.

Mull said caretakers and teachers in Indiana have a right to spank children when appropriate, but some of the discipline that happened at Well of Grace Boarding Academy--including the use of a wooden paddle--crossed the line.

"It was definitely a thick, wooden appearing paddle, but again when that’s wielded very forcefully against young children, as young as 8, 11, and 14-years-old, and they're struck very hard without leaving bruises, that’s not legal discipline”, he said.

The priority for officials in Clark County is to reunite the children with their families. As for Williams, he will not be reunited with his family unless he pays a $15,000 cash bond.

Williams and Harris are expected back in court on Sept. 8.