Elkview, WV - Todd Roatsey, a Pinch Elementary School School Counselor, Charged With Exchanging Child Porn With Two Students

Elementary Counselor Arrested On Child Porn Charges

According to the Daily Beast, a school counselor has been arrested for exchanging sexually explicit texts with students while employed at Pinch Elementary School located at 300 S Pinch Rd, Elkview, WV 25071. 

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents began investigating 42-year-old Todd Roatsey in August of 2021. A cyber tip accused Roatsey of uploading several videos and images of "prepubescent and pubescent minors engaged in sexual activity." When a search warrant was issued for his home, where he lives with his father, they discovered "substantial amounts" of images and videos of minors being sexually abused. Included in this were several videos of students from Pinch Elementary School. At least two were videos of them engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and some of the students were as young as 11 years old. 

Roatsey, once awarded Counselor of the Year, is said to have posed as a teenage boy to communicate with the minor children. He used Snapchat to exchange images and videos with several students from the school. Many of the recordings were from January 2020 to the early fall of 2020. 

Investigators found many folders on Roatsey's phone labeled "Child," "Rape," and "Rape1." They also found some that included adults sexually abusing "infants and toddlers." His personal phone had several communications between girls ranging from "late elementary school through middle school."

Roatsey resigned from his position as a counselor at Pinch Elementary School in the fall of 2021. He has been charged with nine counts, including using two girls to produce child porn. 

Lawsuits For Sexual Abuse by School Employees

Attorney contributor Jesse Forbes represents victims of school sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. He has worked for years as a school sexual abuse attorney and recently shared some information regarding filing a civil lawsuit for school sexual abuse.  

"Student safety should be a priority of all schools as they are legally responsible for offering protections against crimes, like sexual abuse. A school safety plan may include security surveillance, proper background checks, and a reporting procedure. Sadly, there have been numerous cases of school employees, such as counselors, charged with sexually abusing and exploiting their students. If a school neglects to implement proper safety measures designed to minimize the risk of abuse, they could be held liable in a lawsuit. Victims of sexual abuse and exploitation should know they have legal options, such as filing a civil lawsuit to recover a sexual abuse settlement."

"Filing a criminal report with law enforcement can lead to the perpetrator facing criminal charges. However, this is not the only option available for victims. In some cases o school sexual abuse, the abuse would not have happened if the school had not neglected its security. In cases where the school was aware of a school employee having a history of misconduct, or if they failed to conduct a background check, the victim might have sufficient grounds to file a private civil lawsuit against the school or school district."

"School sexual abuse victims should consult with an experienced school sexual abuse attorney to learn their legal rights. The attorney will go over what actions and misconduct fall under school sexual abuse, such as physical and non-physical behaviors. They can also inform victims and their families of any statute of limitations that might hinder the chance of filing a lawsuit."

Sources:

The Daily Beast