Two Central Lafourche High School students have been charged after they allegedly attempted to frame a male high school teacher, falsely accusing him of sending inappropriate messages to a student.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Schools Superintendent Jarod Martin revealed that a concerned party reported on December 18, 2024, that a Central Lafourche High School teacher had been sending inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old female student. Upon investigation, detectives discovered that the student and her 15-year-old friend had engaged in conversations involving inappropriate messages from the teacher through an online instant messaging platform.
Following the report, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation. Over the next two weeks, detectives conducted a thorough examination, which included interviews with all parties involved and obtaining search warrants for their phones and accounts on the messaging platform.
The investigation ultimately uncovered that the two teenage girls had fabricated the messages, created fake accounts, and shared screenshots with friends in an attempt to frame the teacher. It was confirmed that the teacher had not sent any messages or photos to the girls and had no involvement in the incident. Therefore, the teacher was deemed a victim of the crime and was cleared of all allegations. Subsequently, one of the students admitted to their involvement in the scheme.
On January 6, 2025, both girls were charged with one count each of false swearing for the purpose of violating public health or safety (felony), cyberstalking, and online impersonation. They were placed on electronic monitoring and released into the custody of their parents.
Sheriff Webre commended the investigators for their diligence and cautioned the community against similar actions in the future. He emphasized the seriousness of false claims and the potential repercussions they can have on individuals’ lives. Technology may facilitate manipulation of the truth, but it also enables investigators to uncover the truth eventually.
Superintendent Martin expressed shock and disapproval of the students’ actions, describing the allegations against the teacher as false and malicious. He acknowledged the swiftness of the investigators in identifying the source of the messages. Attacks on a teacher’s credibility and reputation are concerning, as they can hinder their effectiveness in educating students. The school administration is committed to thoroughly investigating all allegations of misconduct to ensure a secure environment for learning and working for students and staff alike.