Special Needs Teacher Charged With Sex Assault Of 16-Year-Old Girl
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 47-year-old school teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student.
David Scott Henderson is a special education counselor and substitute teacher at the North Education Center in New Hope.
Police said last Wednesday he brought the victim to his Rogers home and later sexually assaulted her while his kids slept in a nearby room.
Neighbor Tom Daly said he was "disappointed."
"You don't want it in your neighborhood," he said.
Daly lives a couple houses down from Henderson's family and from where Henderson allegedly assaulted the 16-year-old girl.
"I feel sorry for the three kids they have there," Daly said.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim described Henderson as "kind of a father figure" to her. Police said he spent time with the girl outside of school.
"This young girl was taken on trips to Wisconsin Dells with the family," Rogers Police Chief Jeff Beahen said. "The victim's mother was provided with financial support."
Police said last Wednesday Henderson picked up the girl and brought her to his house, where they watched movies with his kids.
The victim told police that after everyone went to bed, Henderson pinned her down on the couch and began to assault her.
According to the complaint, when she told him, "No," he replied, "You can't really do anything about it. ... You owe me."
"It is that developing, you-owe-me relationship," Beahen said. "If you turn me in, if you talk about this, your mom isn't going to get money, you aren't going to go on the trips, you aren't going to see my children anymore."
Henderson did not answer his door Tuesday night, but it's not the first time police have made an arrest at his home.
In 2002, his wife, Cynthia, was arrested for beating and eventually killing 8-month-old Austin Olson, a boy she was caring for.
She was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
"I would like to see them move because it's a nice neighborhood. And it's not the first time we have had problems with them. It's the second time now," said Daly.
The complaint said Henderson told officers it was a "dumb decision" to have a student sleep over, but denied having sex with the girl.
Henderson has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct. He has been released on bail.
A district spokesperson said that Henderson worked in District 287 for 22 years -- from 1993 to 2015 -- as a teacher. On Wednesday, the district released a statement: "We are deeply troubled to learn that a District 287 employee was recently charged with serious crimes involving a minor. My heart goes out to those affected.
"This employee has not worked in District programs since June 8, the last day of the 2014-15 school year, and is currently on leave. We are working cooperatively with local authorities and are taking all necessary and appropriate actions with regard to his employment."
