COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A teacher who was once honored as "Teacher of the Year" is now facing three counts of sexual assault for allegations involving his students.
Spencer Herron was a broadcast video instructor at Kell High School in Marietta.
Channel 2's Lauren Pozen learned that the allegations took place over the course of two school years and ranged from groping to sex with students.
“I was kind of shocked,” Marietta resident Cindy Spencer said of her reaction to the allegations.
Herron was also a former business owner and served in the Air National Guard before his time at Kell High School.
Police said Herron groped a student approximately four times during the 2016—2017 school year.
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Arrest warrants also say he allegedly had sex multiple times with two other students during the 2016 – 2017 and 2017 – 2018 school years.
Police say he told one of the victims to be quiet when she started crying.
They say the other victim told them Herron had sex with her after she said she didn't want to continue.
People who Pozen spoke with said they are skeptical of the charges.
“You don’t always what the truth is. Someone can say something about something just to hurt their reputation. You don’t know,” Spencer told Pozen.
“I would always want to know the history of this person making the complaint as well as what kind of history do they have, could they have provoked something like that?” Marietta resident Mike Flowers said.
Two former students, who did not want to go on camera, told Pozen that Herron was a great coach and teacher.
Another student added Herron was professional and kindhearted.
She told Pozen that she doesn't believe the allegations to be true.
Herron was the "Teacher of the Year" at Kell High School in 2016-17.
Channel 2 Action News contacted the school district. They sent an email statement saying:
“The district is aware of the allegations and has been cooperating fully with the police investigation.”
Cox Media Group
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