Band Director Allegedly Had Sex With Student Inside School Multiple Times, Arrested

A high school band teacher in Atlanta was accused of having sex with a student multiple times inside school and in his car.

Jovan Burton, 35, who worked at Coretta Scott King Leadership Academy, an Atlanta Public School, as the director of an all-girls band, was arrested Monday and charged with felony sexual assault, according to Fulton County jail records obtained by ABC-affiliated Channel 2 Action News.

A warrant was issued against Burton after the unidentified victim told authorities that the accused had sexual encounters with her at least six times in various locations both on and off the school premises – including the band room, practice band room and in the custodian's restroom. Burton also allegedly had sex with the student in his car at a store parking lot and in the parking area of her workplace. It was not immediately clear where the student was employed.

A letter, which did not mention Burton by name, was sent out by Atlanta Public Schools to all the parents whose children attend the high school. “Atlanta Public Schools takes seriously any instances of employee misconduct and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to make sure all of our campuses are safe and secure for our students, staff and visitors," the statement said.

Despite being informed of Burton’s resignation from the institution, Monday and officials claiming that they were treating the case seriously, a number of parents claimed that the school district could have handled the situation better. According to a number of students, the word about Burton’s misconduct had created quite a buzz in the campus and the accuser had stopped coming to school.

Tridarryious Capers, a senior at B.E.S.T. Academy, the all-boys school connected to the all-girls institute, said the accused was often seen accompanying the victim. "He wasn't, like, that type of dude to me," Capers said. "(But) it's not surprising because we always saw them together."

However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a Coretta Scott King employee who was familiar with all the individuals involved in the case, said he was shocked to hear about the news. "I've known the band director here to be a good brother," the worker said. "He's never shown me any signs of being anything else besides a good brother."

Yet another unidentified worker at the school prayed for the school to survive the scandal. "I'm just hoping that none of it is true, and I hope that if it is true, there's some type of healing process that can happen with the students impacted, and mainly with the... alleged victim," he said.

Burton was married and had two daughters. He will remain in jail until the trial starts.

In a similar instance, a Pennsylvania school band director, Dale Schimpf, 71, was arrested Monday after he sent nude pictures to a 13-year-old boy he met on Grindr and later engaged in sexual intercourse with him. After being arrested, Schimpf, who taught music at Nativity BVM High School, admitted to having sex with the minor, adding that he thought the victim was 30 years old, the New York Post reported.