A former elementary school teacher in Gwinnett County is facing serious charges, including a felony count of first-degree child cruelty, following allegations of inappropriate touching involving at least two students.
Brandon Hill, 29, who taught at Trip Elementary School in Grayson, was terminated from his position after the accusations surfaced. The alleged incidents occurred throughout the month of March, according to reports from Atlanta’s ABC affiliate, WSB-TV.
Arrest affidavits obtained by WSB-TV detail the disturbing allegations. In one affidavit, police state that Hill is accused of rubbing the hair, head, back, and shoulders of a female student on six separate occasions.
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The document further alleges that Hill told the student “not to use her voice” and that it “was quiet time while he was touching her.” Tragically, the affidavit reveals the student later cut her hair hoping Hill would “think she wasn’t in the class anymore, so as to not touch her.”
A second student has also come forward, accusing Hill of similar actions, including stroking her hair and rubbing her back and shoulders multiple times. According to a separate affidavit, this student attempted to get Hill to stop. “The victim told him to stop on several different occasions,” police stated, “However, the accused didn’t stop stroking the victim’s hair when told to stop by the victim.”
Hill was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree felony child cruelty and one count of simple battery, a misdemeanor. The child cruelty charge stems from the allegation that he “maliciously” caused one of the underage victims “cruel or excessive physical pain or excessive mental pain,” according to one of the affidavits.
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A spokesperson for Gwinnett County Public Schools told WSB-TV, “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is — and will always be — the district’s top priority. As soon as we became aware of the allegations, we acted swiftly and followed all state and district-mandated protocols.”
The spokesperson confirmed that Hill “was promptly removed from the classroom and did not return to the school” following the allegations.
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