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On March 8, 2022, Trent Ricks was arrested by the Decatur County School Police after a mother pressed charges on him for having a sexual encounter at school with her 14-year-old daughter.

According to DCSP, Ricks, who is 18, was caught by a teacher having a sexual encounter in a secluded area of the hallway.

The teacher then alerted the school police, who approached the teens.

The female admitted to having the encounter, while Ricks denied it, although it was proved to be true.

Superintendent Tim Cochran said in instances like these, the school can choose to press charges, however they usually leave the decision up to the parent.

“When you have a kid misbehaving, you do the best you can to mitigate things, but when you’re dealing with 5,000 kids, things can happen,” Cochran explained.

While the school chose not to press charges, because the act was consensual amongst the two teenagers, the mother chose to move forward.

“It really depends on the case when we charge them,” Cochran said. “It’s not always clear cut across the board, but we absolutely can, depending on what’s going on.”

Ricks was charged with child molestation and sodomy, due to the nature of the act and the female’s age.

DCSP said this case will absolutely set a precedent, as it’s the first time a parent has chosen to move forward, and it will also help them take a stance on the act.

While Cochran was unable to comment on the status of a student, he said the precedent of certain charges can negatively impact the chances of a student returning to school.

Ricks was bonded out for $1,300 later on March 11, 2022.