SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A sexual assault incident occurred Friday on the campus of Central High School.
A Springfield spokesperson confirmed a male student was arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in a sexual assault incident at Central High School.
Law enforcement was notified of the sexual assault incident on Friday, Nov. 2 by Springfield Public Schools.
Marquies Thomas, 18, of Springfield, Missouri, a student of Central High School, was arrested on Nov. 3.
Thomas faces five charges of second-degree sodomy, three charges of second-degree sexual abuse and one charge of first-degree sexual misconduct.
Three of the above charges stem from a June 22, 2017 incident. Those charges include one of the second-degree sodomy charges, one of the second-degree sexual abuse charges and the first-degree sexual misconduct charge.
The remaining charges are related to the Nov. 2 incident.
An email was sent to Central High School students’ parents Monday afternoon informing them of a sexual assault incident that occurred last week.
The school district is fully supporting the ongoing investigation, according to the email.
“Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our students and we are committed to serving their best interests – always,” said Lisa Anderson, the principal of Central High School in the email.
According to the email, discipline procedures for Safe Schools Act violations, like this alleged incident, include long-term suspension and/or potential expulsion.