7 News Belize

A Pedophile Principal?
posted (June 21, 2017)

The staff, students and parent community of the Monsignor Roman Catholic Primary School in Valley of Peace are on edge after the Principal Johnny Valencia was charged with sexual assault last Thursday. The case involves a 13 year old girl who alleges that the Principal touched her inappropriately. But what is disturbing is that another student has reported that she too was assaulted by Principal Valencia. It is a troubling and very sensitive case and Courtney Weatherburne spoke to both girls and Principal Valencia yesterday in Valley of Peace. To protect the identity of the children we interviewed them off camera and distorted their voices as well as the voices of their parents. Valencia also asked to appear off camera. Here is that comprehensive story with both sides of these allegations.

Break time is over and it’s time for these students to go back to class for their afternoon sessions. All the students hurry over to their classrooms and form their lines to go inside. But two of their classmates weren’t at school today to play or get in line with them.

The two young girls were at their homes because they say they don’t feel safe at school anymore. The two girls claim that their principal Johnny Valencia touched them inappropriately on two separate occasions.

The first case involves a 13 year old Std. 6 student. She says on Monday June 12th at 10:15 in the morning, she was heading back to class after she took a nap in the Library â€" she wasn’t feeling very well. But according to the girl, on her way out, Principal Valencia approached her.

13 year old girl
"I got up and went to the door and then my principal stopped me and uhm.. and then he asked me if I was sick right and I told him no I just feel tired and then he grabbed and forcibly kissed me and he tried to grab my ass so uhm...."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Just to clarify he was by the door and he grabbed you by your hand?"

13 year old girl
"No by my shoulders, two of them."

Courtney Weatherburne
"And then he kissed you on your lips."

13 year old girl
"Yes. As I pushed away he told me I am his favourite person, like one of his favourite persons and he doesn’t know what he will do when I leave this school. I felt disgusted like I wanted to vomit and all. I didn’t. ..I didn’t want that, I just hate him because of that."

Principal Johnny Valencia was charged with sexual assault for this complaint. But the child claims this isn’t the first time Principal Valencia has made advances on her.

13 year old girl
"Before when I was younger he used to kiss me on my cheek but I thought it was for kindness then he started to get a little bit more... yes and he try tell me pretty things and he try to rub my hands and I didn’t like it.  One time I was feeling sick and I had cough and I told him I was going to rub it (my chest) and he didn’t want but I was small so I and then he tried to touch my breast when he did that."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Did you tell your mother or any other teacher about these previous instances?"

13 year old girl
"No I hadn’t because of my fear and I didn’t have courage when I was young."

Courtney Weatherburne
"How do you feel after hearing your baby, your young daughter tells you what happened to her?"

Voice of Mother
"Shocked first of all, angry I mean there is no words to describe how I feel, betrayed because I trusted those people. I have been a part of the school for many many years, I served in the PTA, I trusted them and for them to do this to my child and I say they because she told and nobody did nothing about it. It’s hard, she is strong yes, she is not a push over but I can see the pain in her I can hear in her voice. This is a mother’s nightmare but this happened at school a place that should be safe for kids."

But Valencia says it is safe and these allegations are false. Valencia shared his side of the story off camera.

Courtney Weatherburne
"So in point in that interaction did you kiss her?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"Of course not, that never happened okay because…"

Courtney Weatherburne
"Or try to touch her behind?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"Of course not all I did was try to ask for pain or the fever."

Courtney Weatherburne
"So in this case what do you think it is, is it that the little girl or the parents you are saying they made up this story?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"Well in our view or in my view that is most likely the situation because..."

Courtney Weatherburne:
"Why would they make up a story like that against you?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"I wouldn’t be able to say for sure but I know the parent was complaining for one thing that subsidy was not approved for the child and she was accusing us or blaming us for that because according to them we had not rendered the necessary support and all of that." 

The child’s mother told us that from the day they reported it to police, many villagers have been against them - circulating Valencia’s version of the story.

Voice of Mother
"I hear from people that I am try to black mail the principal which is a total lie." Â Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ 

But this mother isn’t the only one trying to get her daughter’s story heard, an 11 year old Standard 3 student claims she had a similar experience with Valencia in February. We tried to speak with her yesterday but she was too overwhelmed to speak.

11 year old girl - Translated from Spanish to English
"I asked him if he could lend me the bucket and he told me yes .(crying)"

Her dad told her story for her. The incident happened at school on February 14th. The little girl had taken some plants to school and started her own garden â€" which is now overgrown. The child said that she went to borrow a bucket from Principal Valencia so she could water her plants but she never got to.

Voice of Father - Translated from Spanish to English
"He went close to her and took her and he held her like that by her face and kissed her in her."

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"For me to recall that I just can’t."

Courtney Weatherburne
"So you don’t recall the case in February?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"No as a matter of fact that is nothing close to what we do at school on a regular basis."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Do you remember any interaction with a student who went to borrow a bucket from you?"

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"No that is not true, well like I said I just can’t recall anything such."

While Valencia says the allegations made by the Standard 6 student are false and that he doesn’t remember any interaction with the 11 year old student â€" these kids say it is something they will never forget and they must find the strength to move on.

13 year old girl
"I think I once heard to overcome fear is to face fear and then you will see you will be you are gonna feel better afterwards and you will overcome it and you face it."

But it is certainly not the end â€" both families say they will press on until there is justice for their daughters and for those who may think they are voiceless.

Voice of Mother
"I am sure there are many cases. If he did this to my daughter believe me there are many many parents who have gone through this but they haven’t had the courage to report it because as you see how the community behaves, it is hard."

Valencia says it is hard for him and his family too because it is his name and the reputation of the school on the line.

Voice of Johnny Valencia
"We feel that all of this is just pop up all of a sudden and it is of a great concern because we are trying to our best, we are trying to be doctors, parents and everything for these kids and last minute this is what happens. We never expected people who we help so much to come with such allegations."

The family of the 11 year old student told us they have reported it to police. When we checked with Belmopan police today they told us they are aware of another case which is under investigation, and once they get all the information, they expect more charges will be brought against Valencia. And, again, as you heard, Valencia denies these accusations. 

Now, although Valencia has been charged, he still remains the principal at this time. Today when we spoke to the Cayo District Education Officer via phone he told us that since Monsignor is a Catholic School, it is up to the Catholic Management to put Valencia on administrative leave. He added, though, that if the catholic Management does not act accordingly then officials from the Ministry of Education will intervene. When we spoke to Principal Valencia this evening he told us that he has submitted his report to the Catholic School local manager Eduardo Tesecum. We will keep following this case. Belmopan police are urging anyone else with similar reports against Valencia to come forward and make a report. 

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