Charges against a former Higley High School teacher for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with at least two kids have been dropped.
Aaron Dunton, 35, is no longer facing any charges, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.
The County Attorney’s office submitted a motion to dismiss the charges against him, according to court documents. The accusations were dismissed without prejudice, which allows the government to re-file them.
The case was returned to the Gilbert Police Department, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced during a press conference on Wednesday.
After beginning an investigation into Dunton in April, Gilbert police detained Dunton in June on suspicion of aggravated assault.
Dunton eventually left Higley High School after being first placed on administrative leave.
Detectives in Gilbert discovered another alleged inappropriate interaction between the former teacher and a pupil he had taught at Power Ranch Elementary School back in 2018. This was discovered throughout their investigation.
What the claimed conduct against Dunton in this occurrence was is unknown because the court records, in this case, have been sealed.
Former and present educators said that they alerted administrators from both schools about concerns regarding Dunton’s alleged inappropriate behavior involving students prior to his arrest.
Higley Unified Schools responded by starting its own investigation.
The hiring of an attorney to look into the handling of the prior charges against Dunton, including who knew what when was revealed by the Higley Unified Schools Governing Board in late June.
There was no timetable provided for when the probe would be finished.
Inquiries about comments on the charges being dropped have been made to Gilbert police and Higley Unified Schools.
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