A 40-year-old Louisiana high school custodian has been arrested after he was accused of inappropriately touching a female student, authorities said.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Levan Harris, of Hammond, and charged him with sexual battery for inappropriately touching a female student at Ponchatoula High School.
On June 30, 2022, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Division was alerted that a female student had been touched inappropriately by a custodian while she was attending summer school, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Throughout the investigation it was alleged that the student had been asked by the custodian, later identified as Harris, to assist him in moving some furniture in a vacant classroom. After the student complied, the custodian offered her money for her assistance. When the student declined the offer, Harris proceeded to put his hand under the student’s shirt and began rubbing the money and his hand on her breast.
Shortly thereafter, Harris was located and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on one count of Sexual Battery.
Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Melissa Stilley told 9news on Tuesday that the man, who was previously assigned to the Ponchatoula High School campus, is no longer an employee of the school system.
“Our district puts the health and safety of our students first and foremost,” Stilley said. “These are very serious allegations, and as such, we have taken swift action to review this case. We are also cooperating fully in the police investigation.”
